I have been a patient for over 10 years -- having seen psychiatrists, nurses, social workers, clinical workers across a wide spectrum. Getting an appointment has never been easy (not their fault) but there is a general air of indifference within the service, which I put down to overwork and some not-very-good staff.
My psychiatrist saw me for 10 years, but they never knew what medications I was on: they never wrote them down/never looked at their previous notes to see what they had discussed and prescribed from last time.
My son needed to see a psychiatrist as a matter of urgency but the very good doctor had 14 patients that day. Despite their overwork, they did see my son in the end -- but it was that, or we were advised to call an ambulance and go to A&E.
I think there is a huge review needed to help the medical staff understand how they convey apathy, and to find ways to give hope to patients that there is a way out of this terrible NHS mental health service . . . it is just miserable to be a part of. By the way - I am a university educated professional with a solid career track record and a married parent with two children -- one who is about to study medicine. I am a functioning person, despite my mental health challenges.
"An air of indifference by clinicians"
Posted via nhs.uk
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