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Original poster

I am amazed, well probably more annoyed than amazed, at the inequality in the Mental Health care in this country.

47 replies

twinsetandpearls · 21/01/2009 17:40

I am thousands of pounds in debt because of the poor mental health provison where lived before. As some mumsnetters know I had a huge breakdown a while backl and have had to pay for private treatment including a private admission. I was on a huge waiting list for counselling and gave up in the end.

I have just been to see the doctor in my new surgery and mentioned this to him and it has been made very clear to me that whatever counselling I needed I could have it for free, within reason of course and it would be made a priority case.

As he was evaluating my case we hovered over whether I would need an admission or some very intensive input and again that was available. Now it may be that the facilities down here are so poor that I may have had tp go private again but I get the feeling not.

The doctor here took real time with me rather than rushing me in and out and was really shocked at the treatment I was getting before.

One of the things that has been stressing me out is our rather dire finances which are a direct cause of the fact I have needed treatment that I could not get on the NHS.

Rant over and off for a cup of tea.

OP posts:
RaspberryBlower · 21/01/2009 20:00

That's really terrible. I'm glad you're getting better treatment now, though. Good luck with it.

BonsoirAnna · 21/01/2009 20:03

Yes, it is very sad that health care provision is so patchy in the UK.

But I am glad you seem to be in an area with much better provision (and to have found an understanding GP) in your new area.

naswm · 21/01/2009 20:05

I dont know your story twinset (or do I? ) but I totally concur. I have fought the mental health system for years and years and years. And have also got in debt to the tune of £x,000 because of my 'private' treatment when the NHS let me down.

I am glad your latest GP is taking things seriously though. Alas I am still stuck with the crap London services and falling between the posts all the time. Where in the country are you?

If you want to talk offboard do CAT me

nas
x

Original poster
twinsetandpearls · 21/01/2009 20:07

I am in Dorset.

OP posts:
herbietea · 21/01/2009 20:09

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

naswm · 21/01/2009 20:13

I hope the Dorest system doenst fail you. And if you ever want to talk, you know how to contact me

Boco · 21/01/2009 20:21

I've found exactly the same, moving to a rural area. My dp was very unwell. I couldn't believe the lack of provision, there is next to no service available. Even coming out of hospital, no counselling and a years waiting list for CBT.

psychomum5 · 21/01/2009 20:29

tiwnset.....I am so sorry that you have had such dire treatment before.

now, you may know from my rants on the board that my mother has schizophrenia. she has been under the health care system in dorset since I was 18mths (so since 1974), and has always had superb treatment......on the NHS.

I also have had a fair few friends (or friends of friends) that I know have needed a lot of help with regards to depression, PND, eating disorders etc. I myself have needed help with regards to coping with my mother and aunt, and also with regards to my driving phobias.

now, there has been waits for each of my friends, and with me too, but in the meantime, the GP's in each case have been very pro-active in helping ensure that things do not spiral and get worse, and keeping a good eye on any medical treatments offered while waiting for the next step in treatment (normally counselling, but sometimes CBT, sometimes care in the special mental health hospitals in the county.

I send lots of hugs......it is a hard thing to admit you need help to the medical field, let alone to family/friends/online friends!

noonki · 21/01/2009 20:30

Twinset I hope that you can sort it out

It is truly disgusting when you think of some of the waste of money that gets spent.

Also so much of the actually counselling is of low quality that really does little to help.

I have NEVER been so badly treated as when I needed help for depression in manchester.

10 years previously I had had a manic episode, had been fine for years then had begun to feel a bit down, gp great referred to consultant. The consultant was the most ignorant bastard I have ever come across. After a 10 minute rerun of my history (1 Manic episode, a then recently a feeling of depression but not that bad) he prescribed me lithium. A drug used to stabilse severe manic depressives, that needs to be very carefully monitored WTF

I refused to go again and had to basically sort it out by myself.

I hope you sort it out

fizzbuzz · 21/01/2009 20:58

I think that is shocking.

I am having a shitty time ATM. Have had to wait just 5 weeks for counselling, have physc and local outpatients dept which I can contact in times of crisis (been a few of those lately . In fact the one thing that has made the whole unbearable thng bearable is the FANTASTIC provision from NHS. Even have nursery nurse come in 2 hours a week on my day off to look after dd, as arranged by hv (also on NHS)

Write to your mp, I think that is outrageous. When you are mentally ill, you need a very high level of support. Not getting that can cause lives to be lost ime

I live in a very large city, but don't see why that should qualify me to get excellent support when someone else doesn't....

Sorry for all people who have had shit on hee. Being mentally ill is bad enough.....

fizzbuzz · 21/01/2009 21:04

Oh, and counselling is CBT as well, from trained CBT therapist

Original poster
twinsetandpearls · 21/01/2009 21:06

That is good to hear, the doctor was wonderful tbh, I have been really struggling lately and in the past when I have asked for help it has just meant upping my medication but he took real time with me to see what would work.

Fizzbuzz I am saying that in my rural town I seem to be getting much better treatment that in my lancashire town previously.

OP posts:
PlainOldPeachy · 21/01/2009 21:06

Its rubbish isn't it twnset?

one reason we're 'exciled' here- slow though the provision for the boys is, it's far btter than anything we had before moving

PlainOldPeachy · 21/01/2009 21:07

(mind dh can't get counselling here as counsellor on lt sick leave and that was immediate back home- swings and... )

choosyfloosy · 21/01/2009 21:11

That's extremely interesting because when dh lived in Chester he also got diabolical service, whereas here in Oxford it is pretty good.

What's going on in the NorthWest? Historically underfunded mental health or what? Are other parts of the health service better there?

Original poster
twinsetandpearls · 21/01/2009 21:12

It has not been too bad as I get DLA and we use that money for my counselling.

But dp has cut down his hours to be my carer so that money does not exist anymore. When I needed hospital admission that was a four figure sum which was how we ended up in debt.

Peachy it makes me so angry, depression can be, and in my case certainly is , a life threatening condition.

OP posts:
fizzbuzz · 21/01/2009 21:13

Aaaah obviously misunderstood you...well I think a good GP is the link to everything, because they can access it all for you.

Hope you are feeling better, but I wonder why national care is so fragmented...it's just so wrong

Original poster
twinsetandpearls · 21/01/2009 21:15

I dont know if it s down to how many people need the service.
The town I lived in before had a high drug problem as well as a lot of people reliant on mental health services, meaning everything was overstretched. Perhaps there is just less strain in the system here.

OP posts:
PlainOldPeachy · 21/01/2009 21:15

T&P it almost took Dh's life a few years ago, i'd be a widow if the car hadn't stalled that night- we had police out searching and everything.

ATM he's stable on new meds, fingers crossed that will last a while.

I do think- I worked in Psych for a short time, and am able enough to deal with people and systems you know- and so if we can't get anything, how the Hell do people who have LD or can't read or whatever cope?

fizzbuzz · 21/01/2009 21:16

Have just read your last post...that is terrible. Are you working at the moment?

naswm · 21/01/2009 21:20

Every heatlh area will have different priorities - and each trust will purchase different resources from their pct provider. those decisions are supposed to be made on local 'need' but we all know it is really down ot budgets and meeting targets

God do I sound like a cyncial NHS manager or what?

Original poster
twinsetandpearls · 21/01/2009 21:23

When I had my first hospital admission in Lancashire it was truly awful. There was just a general ward where people seemed to be dumped, people with everything from drink and drugs problems to learning difficulties to people with complecx mental health needs.

My daughter was not allowed to visit as there was somone on the ward who posed a risk to children.

People were self harming all over the place, everytime the bell rang on the ward people all ran to the dorr to try and escape.

I had to eat my meals with the men but it terrified me so stopped eating but soon realised that if I was to ever get out I needed to eat. There were no activities on the ward, no OT so people just sat and stared at walls. I went in depressed and quickly spiralled into a pit of despair.

ECT was also used a shcking amount.

When I needed hospitalising again DP made the decision that I would not go in there again and we borrowed money so I could have private treatment.

OP posts:
Original poster
twinsetandpearls · 21/01/2009 21:24

Yes I teach full time, in some ways it is my saviour as I have to keep going and I do at times quite literally live for my job

OP posts:
fizzbuzz · 21/01/2009 21:24

Twinset do you mind me asking how you qaulify for DLA? Obviously if you don't want to say that is fine, but dp has been taking quite a lot of time off work to look after me and dd as I have been so ill at times.....

PlainOldPeachy · 21/01/2009 21:28

Fizz call DLA and get the forms, anyone is entitled if their forms indicate it iyswim (we get it X 2 for asd kids)