Letter: Horrors of the mental hospital
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.LUCY'S MOTHER'S story mirrored my own bitter experience seven years ago when my equally beautiful and talented daughter had a psychotic breakdown which brought me many times to the doors of the Maudsley Hospital ("It could be you or me", 25 July).
I, too, was horrified at the dirty wards, torn sheets, floor and furniture covered in cigarette burns, and lack of nursing care. The difficult patients and the frightened were lumped together with nothing but cigarettes and television to distract them. My daughter has had a succession of junior psychiatrists who all have different ideas on diagnosis and treatment which has resulted in my daughter - who is bilingual, has a degree, and is a talented chef - becoming chronically sick, unable to work and going in and out of the Maudsley at depressingly regular intervals.
I did try to complain but was eventually worn down by the bureaucracy of the NHS. I have now resigned myself to this reality, as have most of the patients. I consider the NHS to have completely failed my daughter and the taxpayer who funds this travesty of care, and am at a loss to understand how the Maudsley earned its reputation as a centre for excellence in British psychiatric care.
LIZ STEPHEN
Aldeburgh, Suffolk
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments