Changing CMHT

[PurpleLovecats]

Has anyone successfully changed community mental health team to a different area due to irreversible differences?

I did when I moved to a different county, if that's what you're asking? I have had much, much better support here.

I’m not sure how that would work unless you physically relocated too. I don’t suppose that unusual for there to be conflict given the nature of people’s health conditions.,Fo you have trust in your consultant?

No I meant when staying put, moving due to irreconcilable differences.

No and now I don’t have one.

I think it’s plausible to get allocated a different key worker or consultant but a whole different CMHT I doubt is possible. It’s like GPs they logistically don’t like to have patients out of area because it’s impractical to visit them when necessary. Also if we are talking about a neighbouring county then there are funding issues because the CMHT is only commissioned for residents of its own area.

I have only ever known this to be done as a special arrangement for a staff member or their close family (conflict of interest). Maybe if you had a serious complaint upheld against the CMHT that might also be a good enough reason but it certainly is not possible for everyone who asks for it.

You would not necessarily have to move house to be legitimately under a different teams area. You could possibly just move GP surgeries as it is usually done on which GP you are registered with.

I would have thought it would be more possible to ask for a hospital based consultant. Have they removed you from their “books” or have you refused to interact with them anymore?

As with most things, you have right to choose so can ask to be referred to an alternative CMHT. The CMHT can decline out of area referrals though, and often will because of the difficulties with visits + what happens if a crisis service is needed (or to a lesser degree an admission, most places are used to having their patients admitted out of area sometimes due to bed pressures).

I have known it happen, but as pp said, mostly when it's a referral for a staff member who works in the same MH organisation they would normally be referred to and so need an alternative for privacy.

I have looked into this on a previous occasion and right to choose only applies for a first outpatient referral. It doesn’t apply for a 2nd or subsequent referral for the same issue (otherwise it would just be a way for people to get 2nd, 3rd etc opinions and there is no right to an NHS 2nd opinion).