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Poor experience following self-harm

Posted By C1234

"Poor experience following self-harm"

About: Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust / Working age mental health care (community) Worthing Hospital

(as the patient),

*May Be Triggering For Self-Harm/ Suicide*

Absolute worst experience I have had with medical staff following self-harm ever, and that is quite an achievement given how stigmatised this is.

I had cut my arm. This was really an attempt at suicide but I didn't manage to cut badly enough. Obviously that makes me weak and means I don't mean it and am just seeking attention, according to staff.

The psychiatric liaison nurse was utterly disinterested and just wanted me out of there. I PLEADED for help and made it clear if I left I wouldn't be safe. He did nothing.

I had blood tests as I had also overdosed. The doctor said that if these were OK I could go. I again said I wasn't safe to go, and would go home and commit suicide. The response: 'You can do it here if you want'.

I don't even have the words. I am just hurt by it. The world doesn't want me here.

Where is the empathy or compassion?

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Responses

Response from Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust 8 years ago
Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust

Submitted on 04/09/2015 at 12:18
Published on Care Opinion at 14:10

Dear C1234

I don’t think we will have met, my name is Helen Greatorex and I am the Executive Director of Nursing at the Trust and always read the posts about people’s experiences in our care.

The difficulty I have when anonymous posts are placed, is that the only way I can contact the author, is on this website. I truly do want to understand what went wrong with your care, and importantly, to make sure that we can sort out any problems and avoid others feeling the same way.

My mobile number is at the bottom of this email, do please ring me if you feel able, or email me directly at helen.greatorex@sussexpartnership.nhs.uk.

In the meantime, I will share your post with our Liaison Teams, because it is important that they have opportunity to read first hand, how you felt.

With Best Wishes

Helen Greatorex

Executive Director of Nursing and Quality Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust Tel 07770 971 610

Update posted by C1234 (the patient)

Firstly, I have still had no response from anyone at SPT. I ended up in A&E the following night from this and have detailed my experiences in another posting.

I did see the response to this that day and contacted Helen Greatorex, who left a voicemail in response telling me to phone the mental health line, and gave me the name of someone working there who was on duty expecting my call. I did call and was told no-one of that name was there. I have since tried to contact Ms Greatorex numerous times and had no response.

Response from Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust 8 years ago
Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust

Submitted on 20/10/2015 at 14:38
Published on Care Opinion at 16:57

Dear C1234

I am so sorry that you have not felt able to accept the offers I have made to meet. I know that the prospect of talking about how you feel might be daunting, but as I have said in my letters to you, understanding what went wrong is the starting point to put things right.

It would be great if you would reconsider the suggestion that we meet, we do care and we do want to help.

With Best Wishes

Helen Greatorex

Executive Director of Nursing and Quality Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust Tel 07770 971 610

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