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"Complete lack of mental health support"

About: Acute and urgent care / Richmond Crisis & Home Treatment Team

(as a service user),

I rang the crisis team suicidal in January, and after three call handlers, two of whom rang me at nearly 5pm and then at 5 said they were finished for the day, I got an even worse social worker on their first day. They discharged me just saying look up debt advice, when that wasn't even the reason for reaching out to crisis - debt was just a symptom of a major mental breakdown and major depressive disorder and PTSD.

GP didn't know where to refer me as I'd been discharged according to the letter (I never even got a letter, first I knew was when I contacted GP saying I was still waiting to see someone).

Had a complete breakdown recently and rang 111.  A caring nurse rang back and got me put through to a crisis call handler with this team who was caring but cut me off as they said they were just a call handler.

An hour later someone called back who I feel should not be dealing with mental health patients. They were appalling and just kept saying go to GP, make an appointment, wait a few days. This is when I'm telling them I want to harm myself and have a plan. They were so bad that I hung up on them abruptly.  They never even bothered to phone back.  I rang Samaritans on a different phone who calmed me a bit.  But still have no mental health crisis help and this team should be shut down as they are completely detrimental to patient welfare.

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Responses

Response from Jane Healey, South West London and St George's Mental Health NHS Trust about a year and a half ago
Jane Healey
South West London and St George's Mental Health NHS Trust
Submitted on 25/11/2022 at 11:37
Published on Care Opinion at 11:37


Dear 'fedupwithstgeorges'

My name is Jane and I am one of the Experience and Governance Leads for the Trust. I was extremely concerned to learn of your experience and would like to apologise for the distress that this has clearly caused you. I will ensure that this is passed onto the managers for the service; however, if you would like us to investigate this matter as a formal complaint then we would be happy to do so. Please email us either on complaints@swlstg.nhs.uk or call our PALS line on 0203 513 6150 and we will be happy to assist.

Kind regards

Jane

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Update posted by fedupwithStGeorges (a service user)

Already done that Jane - twice. Once months ago with no reply (other than the automated response), and once within minutes of that handler speaking to me (after ringing Samaritans) and as yet a) no reply other than the automated response and b) St Georges hasn't even bothered to ring back to check on someone who was suicidal and hung up on their so called mental health crisis person. That is not care at all.

Response from Jane Healey, South West London and St George's Mental Health NHS Trust about a year and a half ago
Jane Healey
South West London and St George's Mental Health NHS Trust
Submitted on 25/11/2022 at 14:44
Published on Care Opinion at 14:44


I am sorry to hear that. If you call our PALS line now then one of my colleagues will be happy to speak with you to listen to your concerns.

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