T O P a S

My mum has Alzheimer’s with LPPA and sadly got sectioned to TOPAS since November 2021 but we are SO LUCKY she is in their care now as ALL THE STAFF HAVE BEEN WONDERFUL. Her consultant (Dr Goel), the Nursing staff, Healthcare Assistants, (Hazel, Chuck, David and more), the social worker (Jenny T), the cooks, I’m sure, as well as the cleaners (I just don’t meet them), are all amazing! My step-Dad gets regular updates and calls every time she has a fall or something, which with her condition is inevitable. We have had zoom calls with the team and feel we’re involved and responded to whenever we call to see how she is which with my only sibling and I being 2 and 4 hours away, is really crucial for us.We could make appointments to see her during the pandemic and although obviously still need to book a time, we can see mum for as long as she can handle now. There’s a nice little garden and large conservatory which means Mum can get outside when the weather allows.The management and monitoring of her medication has been excellent, and we are so grateful because we could not get her to take it at all at home! She’s been on various computations of anti-psychotics, anti-depressants, and dementia meds over many months, till they found something that seemed to have any sort of positive affect. For instance, initially the meds they tried made her sleep all the time and I know that in other places patients can be left just sleeping as of course, it makes them ‘easier’. But thankfully Dr G and team were not happy with this and tried something else so that she still had a more ‘normal’ diurnal / nocturnal routine.While she no longer recognises the WC and uses incontinence wear, they still take her to the WC, rather than just take the easy route… we all know what that is sadly.She’s a tiny person and had been losing weight for several years to less than 7 stone but they are keenly managing her weight and trying a range of methods to ensure she gets enough nutrients and although she lost weight initially she’s now stabilised.We honestly feel beyond thankful that she is in TOPAS and if you’re reading this because your LO has been given a place there, please don’t worry, they will be well-looked after with the benefit of their own room and a dedicated clinical team who actually practice person-focused, patient-oriented care.

Thank you for looking after my Gramm so well.

Excellent psychiatric unit, seem to be doing all the right things with our LO and from reading other people's experiences with other p[lsaces round the UK, I;d say other places should look at what they do here ands try following it!

Very rubbish service when looking after my dad thay did not seem to want to help him while he was in there the nurses seemed very rude did not give us much information about how he was doing while he was in there