St Andrew's Healthcare - Essex

Krisztina N.

I was a very tough cake before I came here and I’m sure the successful treatment here was made easier by my decision to behave better. The reason I recommend St Andrew’s Essex is that since I was treated there, I am out of hospital for four years, which for me is a long time.
They let me study and gave leave to go enjoy town, later to go home to my family. They had a teacher in the facility, which is a great thing! I did my foundation in English and Maths. (Okay, previously I had A-level quality qualifications from another country, also A-levels in this country, but I needed this! It really helped improve my mental health.)
They had a lovely psychologist who appreciated that I was an intelligent human being and gave me explanations at my level. Previously I had all sorts of excuses to the things I was doing, but through books he made me come back down to Earth.
I spent a long time in St Andrew’s Essex, but it was definitely worth it!

Habir F.

St Andrews Heath care was the best place for me as they helped me with my mental health and supported me and the staff are so lovely and welcoming and if it wasn’t for them I wouldn’t be able to be where I am today

Theresa W.

My son is in St Andrews as I write this. Audley Ward. What can I say. You have and are amazing. This is my sons 5th phyciatric hospital in 12 week of being sectioned. 200 miles from where we live. I phone at least twice a day to check how my boy is and staff pleasent and informative. Nothing has been to much trouble. As a mum of this beautiful man. I have been filled with dread and anxiety as to how he was being treated. He had had a mental breakdown. Voices etc but refuses to acknowledge this or take any meds. His named nurse Jackie has gone above and beyond patient. caring. understanding and more. Amazing team work and today for the first time in months and breathe because now my son is on meds and on the road to recovery. Audley Ward I realy can not thank you enough

Damian F.

My mate got sectioned 2 put through release paper work that needed to be done within 72 hours was opened a week later
*verbily abusive to patients
* hands out wrong meds to people
*takes away commodity’s for no apparent reason
The list goes on needs a review last one they had was 2011 and the last bit he is in there for adhd and bpd and they won’t get the right doctors for him and refuses to get any doctor for the right cases

sandy P.

After a year of my son being on an acute ward and several picus with not much understanding to what was going on with him he ended up here, the best place he could be, he was very hard to treat but the drs and staff never gave up on him they managed to get a full understanding and new meds and no rush to send him out the door, now he has moved on to a rehab that will support him further. These guys did an amazing job and have helped my son on a slow path to living again.

Katherine N.

I got placed on Frinton PICU.

I was put here on section 2.

When I came here, I was patted down and had access deprived to my iphone, ipod, camera and even sanitary towels.

I was made to take a blood/urine sample contrary to my dislikes.

I was not able to wash/shower for 3 days and had to wear the same pyjamas for 4 days.

I had to queue up for medication and accept meds from male nurses. I had to have medicine at the same time as everyone else.

I was not allowed to take some medication at first even my contraceptive pill/omega 3 fish oil tablet.

The volume of the staff’s two-way radios is too loud

There is not much food that I like so I am often made to go hungry or pig out on snacks brought from the cafe and everyone has to queue up for meals.

Phone calls are rationed at three phone calls a day and nobody is allowed to phone home at meds/meal times.

I was treated badly by patients as one snatched my clothing and wore it as well as going into my room. As well as swearing at me

One former patient told me untrue information about why I lost my tribunal and swore at me

One patient of foreign origin smacked my bottom and punched me and pushed me to the floor yet when the nurse intervened, she punched me

I was ridiculed for wearing ear defenders.

I was told to shut up after I got anxious about wanting my meds and having to wait

Staff are reluctant to wash my hair (I find this task difficult) as they say “staff can’t assist with personal care needs”

Patients were being left unsupervised; staff only had a basic command of English

One patient said that I was in a mentaly ill state when I wasn’t after I didn’t want to accept meds from a male nurse

A staff member suggested to me to wear a jacket inappropriately (contrary to my dislikes) on a very mild sunny day with not a cloud in the sky causing verbal provocation to me

I was grabbed by a nurse inappropriately whilst playing scrabble. The same nurse inappropriately restrained a patient after the patient knocked on the staff office door for something.

I was not able to go out into the community or access the internet all the time that I was there

TV gets turned off at certain times

Once, there was only one female staff and 5 male staff in a female ward

People can’t access their rooms freely

sherisaaboo

worst hospital ever.danbury ward is literally run by the patients instead of hospital staff. patients get STUCK in there for time and have to fend themselves from other patients from hell. pure evil. you get thrown here and thats the end of you.
my brother made the worst choice ever being transferred here. totally heartbroken at the service.

Will T.

Fantastic I've re thought it as an excellent service and helped me re locate to a flat. Seemingly got me back in on it 🤝 sorted and will trotter 2.0 may even become a reality. Thank-you all so much!