Emotional-CPR

We invited Dr Daniel Fisher to tell us about E-CPR in The Hive on 28 June. Over 50 people attended, including service users, advocacy workers, researchers, third sector staff, psychologists, physiotherapists, mental health nurses, social workers, a GP and a psychiatrist. Daniel trained in psychiatry at Harvard Medical School and practiced for 25 years but it was his lived experience …

Group Advocacy

There has been a definite recovery flavour to our group advocacy over the past few months. Patients often praise the strong recovery focus in the Orchard Clinic and its use of innovative approaches e.g. in employing peer support workers, so it was good to speak to Trevor Jones, one of the people responsible for this happy state of affairs, just …

Patients Council Meeting – 28 May 2018

We enjoyed a very interesting conversation with Evonne Rendall, Health Improvement Practitioner with Smokefree Lothian. Evonne is currently based 4 days per week within REH and developing the service and relationships with ward staff, management and patients. Her role is to support patients to become smokefree and implement consistency, enabling patients experiencing nicotine withdrawal to be supported by ward staff …

Poetry Corner Musings – Martin McAlpine

We laugh, we cry, we love, sometimes we hate, The grassy field, we see the gate, Should we enter, should we not, is it safe? Could we be shot? Or charged by an angry bull, have We transgressed that golden rule That says Stay! Stay away from here, We know to avoid a fear. We stay in our comfort zone, ...

I Love To Wait – Hazel Christie

I love to wait for you I love to wait for you the way it concentrates my mind on the fact that you are not here for me I listen for the footsteps of the approaching therapists I glance up, register their faces, watch as the waiting room empties and I’m left alone with my thoughts So I wait I ...

Patients Council Meeting – 29 January 2018

Our new Chair, Martin McAlpine, introduced our guest speaker, Professor Alison McCallum, in her capacity as NHS Lothian’s Caldicott Guardian, whose role ensures that patients’ identifiable information is treated with dignity and respect. If patient consent is required, it must be given freely and can be withdrawn at any time. She ensures that rights are respected, needs are assessed, the correct treatment and care is given effectively and adequate ...

Group Advocacy Update

One of the most commonly raised issues on the wards since the beginning of the year has been the old favourite topic of ‘activities’. Patients spoke positively about their increased access to art and music therapy – several times people showed us art-work, gave the groups poems to read, or played us music they had made, something we’re keen to encourage. We want groups ...

Group Advocacy

Back in June, the new intensive rehabilitation ward, Braids, was one of the first to move into the new hospital, so we were glad to hear from patients that their first impressions of the new-build were very positive. People felt that their previous accommodation in the old hospital now seemed extremely old-fashioned; this is slightly bittersweet, because the remaining rehab …

Stories of Changing Lives Three

I can’t believe it’s already time for me to go! The book is finished… It’s really exciting to be able to finally share it with everyone – I’ve been blown away by the honesty, generosity, and talent of the people who have contributed their stories, poems, artworks and photos. I’m also excited about the Changing Lives film, which has been …