"CPN is great, but how do I find a GP who understands?"

On my first consultation with my practice nurse after moving into the area, she advised that as I have bipolar disorder a referral to a CPN would be a good idea so that if I suffered an episode they would know me.

The GP then questioned the necessity for this but did refer. Conflict and lack of knowledge regarding mental health care procedure?

Subsequently I had an assessment by the IAPT team, waited 18 weeks and was then seen by an CPN IAPT therapist (whom I and my family cannot thank enough). She recognised immediately I was not well enough to participate in the IAPT process. She referred me to a Consultant Psychiatrist and the recovery team. She has given me excellent support and continuation of care. The assessment has now taken place.

My problem is finding a GP who understands mental illness, understands the referral procedure, listens and acts on CPN advice, reads past history information and looks at me not the screen. All my visits to GP are accompanied. The immediate reaction at last visit as CPN had faxed letter and othe detailed information, which I knew all about, was 'did I want to go into hospital', then 'I only said that to gauge how severe you were'. Once again no idea about admission or care for mental health patients.

The CPN had taken great care to reassure me that admission would not be beneficial, but did give me the crisis team number as a precaution. What is going on here? and how do I find a GP who has experience so that patients can trust them, feel safe and confident with their professional delivery of care and has a policy for acute mental health episodes which the reception team understand and accommodate?

I'm desperate to find a new GP, not to harrass or visit every five minutes, just for them to act on other professionals advice and understand and implement Mental Health Care provision guidance for the trust.