Highgate Mental Health Centre

There were some lovely nurses on Topaz but one called Kumar who was cruel and demeaning and should not be working with vunerable people.He has a serious chip on his shoulder that he is maybe unconsciously trying working through by being menacing towards the unfortunate patients..

The side effects of anti-psycotic drugs are not explained at all. I wasn't even told the names of the drugs I was put on. Refusal led to restraint and undignified injections. I was never updated about a complaint I made regarding an incident of verbal abuse from a member of staff. Very little mental stimulation and opportunities to go outside are limited by low numbers of staff. OT is art based and can be very patronising. Attempts to engage in treatment decisions are dismissed as demonstrating a 'lack of insight'. The food is good and most staff are decent (with worrying exceptions). The hospital does its job. It will get you 'sane' but does little to alleviate suffering.

I was there some time ago. There seemed to quite a few staff who seemed to do nothing but stay in their office and do paperwork or i don't know what, limited effort was made to communicate or talk to me and the ward rounds could be intimidating because they would consist of 8 or 9 people facing the patient. Not sure how they got diagnosis stage with this low level of personal engagement. A patient was blatantly stealing my clothes and possessions and this was not taken seriously. My suggestion for improvement is to have at least one reasonably extrovert member of staff in the common area at all times who can actively engage with patients even if it is just small talk.Surely that way they would have more info to report the patients mental state? if that is what they are judged on.On the plus side it was clean and the food was OK, its a great location, and I was out quickly.

This is a good hospital.

caring staff

I am very lucky to have a great key worker. But, there is not enough support. Weekly 1 hour appointments is not enough when you're really struggling. Unfortunately, the staff are overworked, and simply don't have the time and resources to provide what is needed to its service users.