"A mixture of poor to outstanding"

My experiences as a carer for my son who is diagnosed with Typ2 Diabetes and Paranoid Schizophrenia has been a mixture of poor to outstanding.

I feel that there is a need in Bromley for greater efficiency of liaison between the multi disciplinary teams as delays can cause discrepancies in medication and lack of up to date information on treatments.

There is also a great need for a more combined service for 'dual diagnoses', in particular, mental health issues and diabetes e. g. complex care plan interventions to promote good self management of physical health needs for those that are diagnosed with long term/short term mental health issues.

Closer monitoring of progress within this patient group. Specialised staff that have medical knowledge across the two categories to support individuals in this group. I have experienced diabetic nurses who I feel  have little training/knowledge of serious mental health symptoms and how those may impact on the patients abilities to self manage their diabetic condition.

All information shows that individuals with long term mental health needs are more likely to suffer from health problems in relation to poor education, poor intervention and inadequate support

. Which usually results in costing the taxpayer money due to avoidable Sectioning under the Mental Health Act and treatments given on the NHS.