Being Admitted
It can be difficult to settle into the life of the Unit. For residents, admission will mean leaving home or their carers.
For the first two weeks new residents are sometimes asked to stay on the Unit and not go home to carers at weekends. We find this helps young people settle in and also helps us to begin to understand something about the young persons’ difficulties.
One of the junior doctors and your key-workers will see you and speak to you. They will ask you questions and want to listen and hear about what’s brought you to the Unit.
The doctors also need to make sure that you are physically ok. All youngsters admitted have a physical examination.
Young people usually have standard blood tests taken which your doctor will explain to you.
All youngsters are asked to provide a urine sample when they come to Simmons House for the first time to test for illegal drugs. This is to keep the Unit safe and is not done for the police or anyone else.
Some youngsters also have others tests like heart tracings (ECG) or X-rays. Sometimes more specialised tests are considered including different brain scans (EEG, CT and MRI). These would always be discussed with the adolescent, their family/carers before being carried out unless there was a medical emergency.