Having just spent a week on a mixed-sex acute mental health ward under the Barnet, Enfield & Haringey Mental Health Trust, I took to Twitter  to explain what problems this caused for me. The support and sympathy I received, along with messages from those with similar experiences, made me realise that WE need to be the ones to change this. Patients and carers need to be listened to. 

During my time on Trent Ward, Edgware, I was unable to get food, drink, medication, see my family, see the Doctor, talk to a Nurse or even leave the ward without going through or being in a mixed-sex or male-only area. 

As someone with PTSD from a past assault on a ward, being in a very small area with a large amount of male patients and staff, was extremely triggering and I know I am not the only one who feels this way. Nobody should be locked up on this kind of ward. Nobody should feel unsafe to leave their bedroom, or go without food and drink.

There should be no mixed-sex wards in 2019. The CQC state that as long as bedrooms and bathrooms are separate it’s ok. But it’s not. The main areas were all male dominated and the one female only room available was often taken up by staff on their break!

There are two acute mental health wards in Edgware, both are mixed-sex. This could be so easily changed by making one ward female only and one male only, yet no one will take responsibility for this and change this.

Please take a moment to sign and share this petition with others so that no more patients in mental health wards are kept in these conditions.

1 in 4 people suffer with mental illness. This could be you, your family member or your friend detained on these wards - let’s change this!