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"Communication issues causing me distress."

About: Adult Mental Health Services - Community (County) / Rushcliffe Local Mental Health Team (LMHT)

(as the patient),

This is the second time using this service and the second time I've been severely let down. I know the NHS is going through a lot right now but there is absolutely no excuse for this level of ineptitude I feel I have experienced. 

I had my initial appointment with the CPN at the beginning of September. This actually went well and I felt my trust was reinstated with the service. 

The CPN then said they were going to meet with the board of mental health professionals a week later and then because they were on duty all day the day of the meeting, we agreed to follow up the next available work day. Okay, I said yes then they said they would call in the afternoon - this was all witnessed by my partner as well.

So the day, two weeks after our initial meeting, comes and it gets to around 16:45pm and I call reception and they said my CPN had been in meetings all day and could still ring - they didn't. 

I gave it another couple of days and rang reception around midday, the staff said there had been notes put on the system and I would be called the following week. There was no mention of this when I called previously. I wondered if the notes had been put on after I had been enquiring so I rang reception again to confirm. So I rang again at around 16:50pm and the receptionist I spoke to I found to be just plain rude and dismissive, I didn't get their name but I did not appreciate their attitude - again my partner was a witness as I was on speaker phone. 

I decided to email that evening, who - after my first dealing with this service - said to contact them if any more issues arise. I wanted to withdraw from the service as it was really putting me into a meltdown. They replied in the morning and said they passed it on to the clinical lead. 

That afternoon the CPN rang me, I missed the call but they left me a message. They spoke as if nothing had happened, no apology, nothing. 

It's now been over six weeks and I've received zero correspondence. Not even a mention of my supposed treatment plan, not even an apology, not even a confirmation of my withdrawal from the service; although I feel forced to do so due to such incompetence and it's effects on my mental health. 

How ironic is it that the service that is supposed to help me actually does the opposite? I am appalled at this abhorrent service and it's high time they either close down or sort themselves out. 

They are causing serious harm and I don't feel like they care. 

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Responses

Response from Sian Alexander, Team Leader, Rushcliffe Local Mental Health Team, Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust 6 months ago
Sian Alexander
Team Leader, Rushcliffe Local Mental Health Team,
Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust
Submitted on 31/10/2023 at 11:31
Published on Care Opinion at 11:57


Hi

I am so sorry to hear of your experience with Rushcliffe LMHT. Unfortunately I am unable to see who you are from your contact.

I am the Clinical Lead within the team - please do call me on 0115 9455990 and ask to speak with Sian. We can discuss your concerns, plan an appropriate response and action moving forwards.

I look forward to hearing from you soon

Best wishes

Sian

  • {{helpful}} {{helpful == 1 ? "person thinks" : "people think"}} this response is helpful

Update posted by barnabusthefirst (the patient)

Update:

I have spoken with Sian and she has let me know about some progression with my treatment.

She left me a voicemail as I missed a call from her on Wednesday, to which I chased and left messages with reception on Wednesday and Thursday asking for a callback.

It's now Friday and I still haven't been called back.

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