Autistic Cherry

Dear Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust, I am writing to raise a formal complaint regarding my experiences as an inpatient at Stoddart House in 2014, and later interactions at Hartley Hospital in 2024, involving a staff member named Rebecca Dale, who was my named nurse during my admission at Stoddart. At the time of my admission, I was 19 years old. Rebecca Dale was approximately 35 and held a position of authority and trust. Throughout my time at Stoddart House, there were multiple inappropriate, emotionally abusive, and sexually suggestive incidents which I now understand to be a serious breach of professional boundaries and safeguarding responsibilities. --- Emotional Grooming and Sexual Misconduct While under Rebecca Dale’s care, she initiated an inappropriate emotional dynamic with me. On one occasion while out on leave with her, I had purchased a bottle of vodka and was experiencing active suicidal thoughts, including an urge to jump in front of a train. In that vulnerable moment, she made a personal comment about not seeing herself ever getting married. I took this as a rejection and replied: “I'm never falling in love again after this horrendous experience.” She then looked at me and said: “Marie, it’s me. I know it’s me.” She leaned in and attempted to kiss me. I instinctively pulled away. She leaned in again a second time, and I pulled away once more. Later, while back on the ward, she repeatedly encouraged me to go into the bathroom with her. I never did — I was scared. But I also believed I loved her, which created immense emotional confusion. Despite knowing I was unwell and vulnerable, she continued to manipulate that dynamic. She also made sexually suggestive comments to me, including telling me to touch myself, which was entirely inappropriate and abusive, especially given the context of her clinical role. --- Evidence of Disclosure and Ignored Safeguarding I disclosed what had been happening between myself and Rebecca to my then-psychologist, Claire Iverson, while I was still an inpatient. Claire documented this in my clinical notes. I know this because Rebecca later came to me furious, clearly having read what Claire had written. She still continued the same behaviours. Even after being confronted with a written safeguarding concern, she didn’t stop. At that point, in response to her anger, I said to her: “Those notes? Nobody reads them anyway.” I said that because it was something she used to say to me all the time, when I was anxious about what was being written about me on the system. It was a phrase she repeated often — to downplay the importance of formal documentation and make me feel like reporting wouldn't matter. Looking back, I see now that this was a clear attempt to minimise, silence, and manipulate me, and made me feel powerless to speak up. --- Baby Names and Emotional Exploitation Rebecca and I also had personal conversations about children and chose baby names together during my admission. This created a false sense of emotional intimacy and connection. Years later, I learned that she went on to have children with someone else — using the exact names I had helped her pick out. This revelation caused immense emotional harm. It reinforced the belief that I had been groomed and discarded, and that what I experienced wasn’t just a breach of professional boundaries, but a deeply personal betrayal that has left a lasting impact on my mental health and trust in others. --- Recollection, Overdose, and Re-Traumatisation In late 2023, I began to recall memories of what happened between us. Still emotionally confused, I attempted to reconnect with her — hoping for clarity or closure. Instead, she blocked me. I spiralled into crisis.

Wtaf, there’s no way she’s actually gonna use it?!