My health board/three council areas have rapidly set up a system providing a phone line for assistance, that links back to the nhs and normal council stuff and for help with getting access to for example prescriptions, groceries etc ... I have severe mental health issues (well, currently they’re severe) and was waiting to be diagnosed with autism .
I was urged by a friend who works as a GP to phone up, as she said she knew I am struggling and said they were trying to set up a rapid access to psychological therapies thing, said it might be worth a shot .
So I did, yesterday afternoon and was told someone would try to match me with a volunteer therapist/ psychologist, they said they’d do it ASAP . Kind of expected about a week’s wait or so .
Tonight, to my huge surprise a psychologist rang me, told me we’d been matched and he was willing to phone me every fortnight from his home, for as long as required, as a means of supporting me . Stayed on the phone a good 40 minutes chatting about CBT techniques, ways of dealing with anxiety and coping strategies . He was so enormously helpful - and I can’t believe it took less than 24h for that to be organised . Absolutely amazed . As well as that I’ve been given a phone number for overnight access to a CPN if needed .
I can’t believe that with all that’s going on they’ve been able to arrange all that and on a Saturday too - they (all NHS staff really) all deserve a million , you’re all absolute heroes 