Joanna’s friend is currently being cared for at the hospital and she described it as “absolute torture” and said her ward was “manic”, with a member of staff being openly abusive to her.
The issue, Joanna said, is about the number of staff who do not take the job seriously.
She added she hopes this new enquiry will make a difference, as there are good staff who are struggling under the pressure.
“There were some members of staff who were really good, who were very supportive, but they get burnt out too quickly, there’s just not enough of them unfortunately,” she said.
Joanna is currently receiving residential treatment away from Gloucester and is doing well, but her mother said her time in Wotton Lawn was “traumatic” and “exacerbated the trauma and her mental health needs”.
She said her daughter was given razor blades by agency staff after asking for one to shave her legs and she ended up self-harming very badly.
Joanna was also sent home on leave with razor blades and cut herself at home. her mother added.
She also had concerns about the number of agency staff who were not “trauma informed” and has called for more understanding and access to treatment “as a basic” starting point.
“It’s not just more resources; it has to be a change of thinking from senior managers down,” she added.