I am writing urgently on behalf of a friend who is having a current and serious mental health crisis, which I do not think is being properly addressed.
My friend took an overdose and was seen at the Northern General by the medical team, but not given a psychiatric assessment. I believe my friend is at serious risk and poses a danger to themself.
My friend has been attempting to access mental health support for over a year, for increasingly severe problems with their health. My friend has been diagnosed with anxiety, PTSD and Borderline Personality Disorder.
My friend was assessed at Argyll house who referred them to Sidney Street for drug and alcohol support. They are on the waiting list for St George’s Specialist Psychotherapy Service to receive tertiary level treatment, but has been told they won’t be seen for a year. In the meantime, my friend is being seen by private provider Share Psychotherapy, to fill the gap in service provision from your trust. However, from what I can see this service is not sufficient for my friend's level of need.
My friend is being seen by the substance misuse services. However, my friend's primary issue is one of mental health and they have used alcohol and drugs as a way to manage that. My friend needs urgent support with their mental health instead of being inappropriately shunted back to the substance misuse services.
I feel it was irresponsible of the A&E staff to send my friend home without seeing the liaison psychiatry team at the Northern General. My friend needs an urgent assessment of need, a point of contact within the CMHT and a Care Plan.
I am worried about the future, and I am bringing this failure of care to your attention because I really hope that your services act appropriately from here on. I hope for an urgent response to this posting with information on how to ensure my friend receives urgent and appropriate support.
"My friend needs urgent support with their mental health"
About: Northern General Hospital Northern General Hospital Sheffield S5 7AU Sheffield Health & Social Care NHS Foundation Trust Sheffield Health & Social Care NHS Foundation Trust Sheffield S4 7QQ
Posted by sheff4571 (as ),
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Responses
See more responses from Paul Nicholson
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Update posted by sheff4571 (a friend) 6 years ago
Update posted by sheff4571 (a friend) 6 years ago
See more responses from Deborah Hopkinson