"Unable to access care, help or support"

From Endofmytether,

My husband struggles to get out of bed or to do anything. Without my coercion he would just sit all day. He can’t be out of my sight. It is so wearing and I am totally worn out. The consultant stated that my husband has mild cognitive impairment. There is no diagnosis of dementia.

My husband had to stop driving as a result of a consultant comment on the letter to DVLA, which was later denied by this consultant. This took the carpet from under his feet. Eventually my husband got his licence back but it took from11/11/11- March 2014) as the consultant was wrong. This had a devastating effect on our lives people kept advising him to do his hobbies but driving was his life.

Our GP suggested getting a second opinion but the consultant we saw was not pleasant. The GP told me that they thought it was scandalous because it took so long to see another doctor (from January to June).

The consultant said how dare I question the other Dr’s advice. I feel the consultant is taking it out on us because we asked for a second opinion about several aspects of my husband’s care. When I was asked what we wanted from the consultation, I said some help the consultant told me there is nothing more they can do for my husband (with no explanation or diagnosis) and they won’t amend his medication although the consultant disagreed with what my husband is on. I am a 74 year old woman and I have never been spoken to like that ever before in my life.

We used to have a CPN (up until February) but we don’t now and his CBT treatment was stopped in May. We have had to go privately for some help and support.

I went to PASS (Patient Advice and Support Service) but I did not want to officially complain because I felt it would affect our future treatment and care.

I went to a meeting in The Park Hotel in Kilmarnock (to a Mental Health event) and I was the only member of the public there. A Psychiatrist was there and she and another interviewed me, took my whole story. It was taped and neither of them could believe it but there was no follow-up after taking my story.

No one has sat down has sat down to find out about this and none is trying to help us. We are only existing, certainly not living. We are both at the end of our tether. I don’t know if there is anything anyone can do for him, but what about us? ?