"Distressing experience with service and professional"

I am an independent advocate in the community working with BHSCT clients who fall under the community mental health or learning disability directorates. I have a client who has ASC and ADHD and had a particular doctor prescribing her medication for ADHD and reviewing them. This service worked for them, and they have nothing but good things to say about that doctor.

Due to an event last summer where my client suffered a breakdown they were referred to a different doctor. My client is extremely nervous, anxious and needs to worked with in a way that demonstrates understanding, empathy, and compassion. I sat in the first initial assessment meeting with the doctor and the CPN.

This first meeting was a train wreck to put it mildly. I do not believe reasonable adjustments were made to accommodation my clients ASC/ASD or complex trauma and she was spoken to quite poorly by the doctor. I felt their professional demeanour and attitude left a lot to be desired and I don't believe the GMC would be happy with how they have been public facing and representing their profession.

If I had not been there to attempt to iron out some communication issues the meeting would have ended even earlier. My client had to have another one scheduled. They was told in the first one, with myself as witness, that they would see if the next one they could get the original doctor to also sit in as it will be helpful for everyone. My client agreed this would be very helpful.

Fast forward a month or so and another appointment comes through, and I had to get a fellow advocate to attend as I was on annual leave. On arrival the original doctor was not there. My client was told essentially advised that this had not been said but which I know they did say. This meeting also lasted 30 mins and was ended by the doctor, I believe due to their inability to work with my client or show any empathy, patience or accommodations for their disability or previous experience.

My colleague independently also related back that they felt the doctor had a poor attitude, was rude and petty and at one stage reacted badly to something my client said. My client is now disengaged from this team and service. As a result they will have no MH support.

My client already has had many issues with trust services and wasn't keen to launch a complaint as they has no energy left so it is myself who is pursuing this from a professional standards standpoint. As a fellow professional, I would be horrified if this person was assessing or treating someone who was actively suicidal for example as their treatment could push someone over the edge.