Patient experience

HMP Kirkham

“At about 16 years old, I first started drinking alcohol and then two years later I tried ketamine… it became daily use after about 12 months. When I was 22, my partner died of a ketamine overdose drowning in the bath. This news hit me hard and I turned to crack. By 23, I was serving my first jail sentence. In total, I have served about 30 jail sentences and spent 16 years of my life in prison. All due to Class-A drugs.

Just before I arrived at HMP Kirkham, I made a decision to get off drugs and to stay off them. I started exercise training, which helped me to focus and maintain my recovery, and I attended a substance misuse programme. But after 12 weeks, I had a stroke. I lost all movement in my left side and had to learn to walk again. I still have limited movement on that side and I need speech therapy and regular physio appointments. After I contracted COVID-19, I spent five months in the hospital wing at HMP Preston.

I am now back at HMP Kirkham and have a lot of healthcare support around me. Despite everything that has happened, I’ve managed to maintain my recovery thanks to Spectrum and will continue to fight to regain my health.”

HMP Low Newton

“I’ve used the mental health services. I’ve been housed here at the in-patient unit for about six weeks, since having my baby. It’s quieter down here than the main jail and I’ve got the nurses nearby if I need them. I’ve been separated from my baby whilst I’m in prison.

I’m just starting on medication. I have a personality disorder and so whilst I was pregnant I couldn’t take the meds.
Mental health wise, I’ve had a crisis and I’ve been on constant observation twice. They’re there straight away if I need them. I’ve built up relationships with people I can trust. They’re friendly here, you know they’re not going to gossip behind your back and talk about your problems to other people. I know if I was in crisis, I’d know who to speak to. It makes me feel better, makes me be open and honest about stuff.

The midwife supported me when I was pregnant. She delivered my baby. And she’s done us a Separation Box for the baby. She pushed for contact between us and now I have contact three times a week.

The midwife has really helped us. The separation from the baby is hard and I’ve been crying a lot. I was in a domestic violence relationship and now have that bond with my midwife to tell her about it. She’s been there for me. We done hand and footprints for the Separation Box. I’ve done a Memory Book, where I write about my bad and good days for my baby when he’s older. I’ve got a nappy and two teddy bears, a vest and Babygro. And little comfort blankets; he has one and I have one for a week and then we swap them so he has my scent when he’s away from me. It’s a special memory box and she’s gone out of her way to help me with it.

The midwife went for funding for me as well. My nan brought baby stuff to the hospital but the midwife got me nappies and baby clothes.
It feels a lot better being here. It’s good to be able to talk to someone I can trust.”

Derwentside Immigration Removal Centre

A resident arrived at Derwentside Immigration Removal Centre with an opioid replacement therapy plan in place and was prescribed methadone. The patient, Eliska, said that she felt stable on her current dose and did not report any symptoms of withdrawal.

Eliska was informed of her deportation date and raised concerns that she did not have any accommodation in Slovakia, no friends or family or any money. She did not have any identity documents or health insurance, therefore, she would need to pay for continuation of her methadone treatment plan.
Several multidisciplinary team meetings were held regarding her healthcare and to discuss her safe deportation and resettlement in Slovakia.

A nearby Drug and Alcohol Treatment Centre was contacted to continue with Eliska’s care in Slovakia, and a full handover was shared with her consent. She was also provided with a medical discharge summary in both English and Slovakian, including her methadone programme, care plans, GP and mental health reports.

Eliska was advised of the risks of stopping her medication, the symptoms of withdrawal she could experience and the risk of taking illicit substances and overdose, if she did not continue with the methadone programme.
Prior to the journey, she was given her daily dose of methadone and documentation to provide the Centre when she received her last dose of methadone. She was also given a supply of her medication and two naloxone emergency pens (a medication used to counter the effects of opioid overdose) and informed how to use them.

The Home Office provided a mobile phone so Eliska could contact the centre when she arrived. A local charity gave her the money to travel from the airport.

The Commissioning Manager at NHS England described this as an excellent piece of team work to get the best outcome for this lady.

Sexual Health Services

“I initially found a lump in the genital region. I contacted Spectrum and the receptionist got me a consultation with the doctor. I was diagnosed with a genital wart and was asked if I would like a sexual health screening, which I accepted.

A week later I got a phone call to ask if I would go in straight away. Unfortunately she said I’d tested positive for HIV. Which was devasting to hear. But she was very calm – calm is a good word for it. As I wasn’t. I was devastated.
I didn’t feel rushed to process it. She literally sat there, just letting me process it a little, but checking I’m alright. She said that once we get treatment and things under control, it would be fine. And life, my life, would still go on. She explained all the science behind it, the modern treatments for it.

I told her I suffer from depression and mental health issues. I was feeling a bit, not suicidal, but I could have had the intention. She told me, don’t go to work tomorrow, stay home and process. If she didn’t hear from me by 10 o’clock she’d ringing me. They don’t chase you; they don’t pressure you into talking to them, but they encourage it.

I went home that night and told my partner, and the nurse arranged for us to go in the next day. None of the consultation felt rushed, we were given time to ask questions and process.

All the way through the nurse has been there if I needed her, with a non-invasive attitude. If I need to talk, I can go in, if I don’t want to talk, I don’t have to. I would say my experience, from start to finish, apart from hearing such bad news, has been positive. Nothing has been too much trouble for them.

All of them were just normal. It’s the best way of describing it, it was just normal to them. I didn’t feel like a freak or poisonous. They remember you, they’re polite and friendly. When I go in, I feel like I’m the only patient there. I’m a priority. That’s made it a much easier experience to go through.”

Substance Misuse Services

“I’m in rehab due to misuse of alcohol and drugs. I’ve had trouble with alcohol since 16 and now I’m 24. I did some work with the service before, but I wasn’t ready for the change. I was just paying lip service at the time.

I was still using; I felt I was forced to do rehab by exterior people, the other professionals in my life. It felt like a chore rather than something I wanted to do. It helped speaking to people about my mental health, but in terms of coming off drugs and alcohol I was lying to them. I ended up coming off the service altogether thinking that everything would be fine.

It wasn’t. This time I hit rock bottom spiritually, mentally, physically. I knew it was time to change or I’d end up dead. I hit rock bottom, I lost my children. Tried to commit suicide. I couldn’t put finger on it, but I was ready.
So, I went to the service and I got allocated a worker after I did a screening on my drugs and alcohol intake and asked what I wanted to be in my plan. I got allocated a worker within the first couple of weeks. She was direct and gave me clarity on the best approach for my personal recovery.

I was a bit anxious at first as I’d been in and out of the service before. It was in me mind, will they believe me this time? But they welcomed me and I got an assessment. One thing they’re brilliant at is not judging you.
I attended groups because with addiction it’s better to connect. It’s about reconnecting and getting out of the house and having structure and routine. They’re open to challenge. They want you to be honest as it’s open honest recovery.

I find it easier to speak to someone who’s been through it. Having workers who have experienced it is key to people’s recovery. It is for me, personally.

I’m thinking of becoming an ambassador for the service. It shows that recovery is possible. Someone who’s been through the madness and come through the other side. I can help with other people by living recovery right in front of them. I want to give back instead of taking all the time. I want to do that and help them know that there is light.”