"Anyone's worst nightmare."

One year on and I can only now start to talk about how bad it was. Triage ward - where people are at their most vulnerable; acutely unwell, often confused and frightened and missing home, usually unaware that they are even ill - is like a holding pen. Men and women of all ages and with varying conditions, including dementia, are thrown together like animals in an overcrowded zoo for 'observation'. At night, when people are most unsettled and afraid, the 'nursing staff' couldn't care less. They gather together in the nursing station, laughing and joking, keeping the patients awake.

Those who cannot sleep, or are too afraid to are forced into their rooms. During the day there is minimal interaction from staff and the patients are left in a tiny ward to watch tv or hide fearfully from each other, terrified by the prison-like environment. No counselling. No therapy. I remember I had to beg to be taken to the garden for fresh air. Most of the staff have zero empathy, there ia no specialist care. I left with PTSD from my experience of being in the triage ward for just one week. I am still receiving treatment for the stress and I am not alone. How ironic - I was admitted with bipolar 1 manic psychosis, I left so terrified of ever ending up there again that I am planning to move house to get away from the Ladywell catchment area.

Family and friends, lime mine, believe their loved ones are in the best place. Mine are outraged by the long term psychological damage my one week spent in triage

has caused me.

It would be very hard to find a worse place to send someone for mental health care.