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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

That it will take eight weeks for them to see me for pnd

41 replies

Spanglyprincess1 · 03/09/2018 19:37

Yep eight weeks before I can access mental health support (non drugs) for possible pnd, namely CBT.

Background: I went to doctor on advice on HV. Was feeling posative that I was taking things in hand and sorting myself. I have no idea how I'll cope for another eight weeks (bbay is only nine weeks old!).

Is this a normal amount of time? I was expecting a wait of a couple of weeks but not eight

OP posts:
DesmondSwayne · 03/09/2018 20:03

That's actually pretty good. My younger sister waited 2 years for CBT on the NHS for depression.

DesmondSwayne · 03/09/2018 20:04

The NHS is just so stretched - you've clearly been fast tracked if you're only having to wait 8 weeks.

Original poster
Spanglyprincess1 · 03/09/2018 20:19

That's scary tbh

OP posts:
cadburyegg · 03/09/2018 20:21

8 weeks is pretty good

Will you consider anti depressants in the meantime?

elliejjtiny · 03/09/2018 20:21

8 weeks is good. Sorry to hear that you have pnd. I have it too.

3girlmama · 03/09/2018 20:27

Sad but true that 8wk is good .
Will your hv keep in touch until u get seen by mh team? And do you have a perinatal mental health team where you are that you can ring? X

Bombardier25966 · 03/09/2018 20:27

There are people waiting for crisis care who have to wait longer than that.

I'm really sorry you're struggling, but amazed that this would be a surprise to anyone. If you're looking for support more quickly, can you afford to go private?

Original poster
Spanglyprincess1 · 03/09/2018 21:28

I was living overseas with work for last three years so I'm a bit behind.times and havnt really ever had to use hospitals other than for pregnancy/ giving birth (fortunately been well most of my life). So it was a shock.
Good idea ref HV and support/speak to gp at eight week check apointment which is tommorrow (a week late). I will check my health insurance ref private as I did used to have a policy and can't remember if it's stopped or not.

Elliejjtiny- sorry that you have pnd. Hope your feeling okay and have support

OP posts:
DopeyDazy · 03/09/2018 21:42

Try bereavement counselling not taking any referalls for 8 months in Northants where I am even from doctor

Original poster
Spanglyprincess1 · 03/09/2018 22:05

It seems a bit odd to me as surely early intervention can really help in these type of cases.
I'm obviously behind the times

OP posts:
NewUserNameTime · 03/09/2018 22:18

5 month wait in my area for 1:1 CBT. However that's once the referral is made. The referral is unsuccessful unless drugs, workshops, workbooks & online learning have been undertaken

As others have said the NHS is very stretched

Good luck Thanks

IsTheRainEverComingBack · 03/09/2018 22:20

It’s normal but it doesn’t mean it’s ok, it shouldn’t take that long. Ask the GP if there are any social enterprises/not for profits that you could see earlier, I have a counsellors near me that are run as a social business, so it does charge but much less than private therapy, and they can see you faster.

DesmondSwayne · 03/09/2018 23:58

It seems a bit odd to me as surely early intervention can really help in these type of cases.
I'm obviously behind the times

They would love to be able to get people the help they need earlier, but the NHS doesn't have the money it needs, can't afford to employ enough therapists, and all the while the number of people with mental health issues is increasing.

Waiting lists are miles long. Their hands are tied.

AlphaBravo · 04/09/2018 00:19

It was 12 months for mine. I learned how to do it myself in that time.

yorkshireyummymummy · 04/09/2018 00:31

Yes you are BU.
Eight weeks is nothing to wait on the NHS currently.

My DH was given an appointmet by the crisis teamsith a longer wait than that - the crisis team! Oh, and I was asked if I minded giving them a ring and cancelling the appointmet so somenbody else could have it if DH succeeded in trying to kill himself before his appointment.

Took me TWOYEARS to get him the clinical psychologist appointments he was told he needed after his autism diagnosis.

And when we asked about grief counselling recently we were told by the GP that we might prefer to try and get though it together as it’s currently 5 YEARS waiting. FIVE Years!! I have already thought about putting my name down as somebody iknow must be going to die in the next five years.......

So yes, iknow it’s tough but it’s 8 weeks not 8 months....or years.
Take every day as it comes. Start a diary, it can really help. Get friends and family to help you and support you.
You’ll get through this. Kiss that baby and kiss h8m/her s9me more.

Original poster
Spanglyprincess1 · 04/09/2018 04:50

5 years is awful and I hope your DP got the help they needed.
I guess I was just surprised as I hoped I could get in front of this asap for baby. I'm going to see if there are any books etc I can use myself as there is bound to be something or look at non profit

OP posts:
LudoFriend · 04/09/2018 05:13

Definitely normal, although it sucks.

Be aware you may have to wait even longer for the actual therapy. In my area it's a referral for essentially an assessment by the mental health team. They then refer you on to appropriate therapy. In my case it was a six month initial wait followed by a twelve month wait for therapy. Total of 18th months. I know it isn't what you want to hear (trust me, I'm back on the list, so get it) but thought you'd want to be prepared. Hope it's not the case for you, and you get seen quickly.

LudoFriend · 04/09/2018 05:13

18 months, not 18th...

Aridane · 04/09/2018 05:24

So are you declining any form from f medication?

Aridane · 04/09/2018 05:25

I had thought your phone st was that you couldn’t get a GP appointment for 8 weeks

partystress · 04/09/2018 05:42

Awful, but common - same for adolescents in real distress and at critical times of schooling. You're not BU, but that doesn't really help. I was reluctant to have ADs with DC2 as I was EBF, but researched and requested a specific type (non SSRI, but can't remember which, sorry). I had two dreadful days as they kicked in, but after that began to turn round, within a week felt like me again, and was off them within 3 months.

LadyCassandra · 04/09/2018 10:28

It is shocking. BIL was suicidal and wasn’t given an appointment for 9 months, it was only his family on constant watch that kept him alive.
I know the NHS is beloved, but it’s not fit for purpose anymore. I had PND 6 years ago in Australia and got a referral and appointment within 4 days. The psychologist I saw bulk billed which meant there was no gap between what the government paid and what she charged, so I paid nothing. I don’t know how I would have got through without it. There is a middle ground for healthcare that is not either the UK or the USA system.

Hideandgo · 04/09/2018 10:31

I hate to say it but people really should consider health insurance in the UK nowadays. It’s no secret that wait times for a lot of stuff are long. The NHS does amazing things for us all but can’t be everything to everybody so if you want 100% immediate healthcare for any eventuality, you need health insurance or to pay for it.

Pickleypickles · 04/09/2018 10:40

I got referred for high intensity CBT due to a long history and greater risk of PND. I actually had CBT when baby was about 6 months old. 8 weeks is shit but a lot better than 9 months. Can you HV do any listening visits while you are waiting?

megletthesecond · 04/09/2018 10:44

Yanbu Flowers.
8 week wait for MH issues is about 6 weeks too long IMO.

All the campaigns about speaking about MH issues mean shit if there is no help available.

I gave up after over 2yrs waiting for counselling for depression and anxiety after my dad died.

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