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"My brother is sometimes not visited for months"

About: Assertive outreach (Lewisham)

(as a relative),

My family member has serious mental health needs, and is supposed to be visited by a social worker from the northover regularly, as part of his ongoing care plan. He was never given his care plan when leaving hospital after a 9 month stay, as the social worker did not turn up to the meetings arranged for his discharge twice. He was discharged anyway, as the hospital thought my brother should not stay any longer due to the social worker's reports as far as I'm aware.

My brother has not been visited for months sometimes, and on numerous occasions when the social worker has said they will come on a certain date they have not come, and have then said that they did come, but my brother was not in. I believe this is total rubbish and wonder how they can get away with not seeing my brother for such long periods? I think it's disgusting.

I am the one doing all the running around, making phone calls, trying to get through to social workers to make appointments for psychiatarists etc, but I feel this should be their responsibility, what are they paid for?

And I wonder how many people do not have families to support them, and go on to stop taking meds and end up in hospital on sections?

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Responses

Response from Patrick Gillespie, Service Director, Psychosis Clinical Academic Group, South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust 12 years ago
Patrick Gillespie
Service Director, Psychosis Clinical Academic Group,
South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust
Submitted on 14/03/2012 at 06:42
Published on Care Opinion at 14:13


Dear Ellen Brown

Thank you for your feedback concerning the care and support that your brother is receiving. I am sorry that you feel that this is inadequate and that you are the one that is doing all the running around to make sure he gets the right tratment and care.

In order that I can follow up the concerns that you have expressed, so that we improve our services and learn from this, could you contact me directly with your brother's details .

I would be happy for you, if you would prefer, to email me directly or phone me to discuss your experience further, please contact me at Patrick.Gillespie@slam.nhs.uk or phone me on 0203 228 2344 (I am not always in the office but you can leave a message with my secretary and I will call you back).

Kind Regards

Patrick

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