Would a hospital actually do this?

[lala1984]

Hi all,

I as speaking to a mate last night and we was talking about another friend who suffers from depression.

We want to help her as she has self harmed and attempted suicide before and scared she might try again.
She said to my mate that she wanted to go to hospital, would they admit her if she just walked in saying she has depression and does not trust herself? Would they just keep her in for a few hours to observe her etc or actually admit her?

We are quite worried and want the best for her and if it's to spend a few days in hospital then so be it as long as she gets the help she needs.

[Sqad]

No a" normal " hospital wouldn't admit her without being carefully assessed by a doctor, without that any "dropout" who fancied a bed for the night would use that ruse for acceptance.

Hospital beds are at a premium and admissions are carefully monitored.

[ummmm]

Yes Sqad....and self harmer's are seen as 'bed snatchers'

[Sqad]

ummmm.......let me put it this way.....you are an admissions officer and had just one bed left and had to decide between an acute internal bleed, a head injury with signs of cerebral irritation, an ectopic pregnancy or a "self harmer"......which person would you give the bed to?

These decisions are made on a daily basis throughout the length and breadth if the UK.

[Ankou]

pretty much what ummmm said at 07.58 - what is this ? groundhog day ?

[jackthehat]

That'll be the expert second-opinion, Ankou........:o)

[ummmm]

Sqad....that is what I've been saying in ALL my posts so far!!

[Sqad]

ummmm....I know! I know1........but I didn't realise that in AB one couldn't reinforce what somebody else had said.....I thought it was the rule rather than the exception.........but apparently not.

[Ankou]

i'd give the bed to the admissions officer, they've probably been doing a 20 hour shift.

[ummmm]

Sorry Sqad...it just read like you hadn't read the answers XXX

[Sqad]

ummmm....no worries......not a problem.

[Ankou]

sqad, forfend the fiends my delicate wall flower.

[craft1948]

I'm gobsmacked that she's on 100mg per day medication..........I'm warned never to exceed 45mg of my meds.

[bednobs]

well it depends on what they are!

"Thats what I though ummmm but her gp does not seem to do anything just try and giver her pills and to see a counsellor at her practice"

What else are you expecting the GP to do?

[rowanwitch]

most mental health trusts will have a crisis intervention team and it is usually possible to access the service without a formal referral. phone the local psychiatric centre and ask for the number it is likely the first person you will spaek to is a duty CPN and they may come out or ask you to take your friend to a local centre.
it can take a lot longer than 3 months to get good control of depression with medication and it often needs time for trial and error with different drugs so its worth your friend going back to the GP and either asking for a referral into psychiatric services rather than counselling or to try different meds...although if she is already being a non complier the referral might be a better bet. If she says she has a clear intent to self harm she should be seen within 24 hours usually much quicker.

[China Doll]

We would admit them if they were seen as that much of a risk. I often have to deal with referrals for children to social services because a parent has come in acting 'confused', 'disorientated' or 'depressed & suicidal with history of self harming' etc... Generaly these children are referred to social care because the parent has been sectioned or has voluntarily gone elsewhere for treatment and social care do a follow up to make sure their home enviroment (usually with the ohter parent) is perfectly adequate and to offer support. Sometimes it is the main carer of the child/children that has been admitted and they obviously need some sort of temporary housing.

[lala1984]

Thanks for all your responses.

Spent the day with her and she is in a really bad state. Got a GP appointment Friday she said doc agreed to come off pills and another said not to go back on them just have counselling sessions.