"Inability to Access Chronic Fatigue Service"

I was referred to a chronic fatigue service. The first service rejected a referral because of a mental health diagnosis. The GP had nowhere else to refer to. 

I contacted the ICB, who advised GP Surgery to refer to Hertfordshire chronic fatigue service. 

This service rejected the referral claiming reasons not supported in my medical record. The ICB had to be contacted again and a second referral was sent. 

Instead of accepting, this service are still refusing to answer, demanding more information,  which they have been given,  then stipulating more demands before giving any answer. 

The problem of fatigue was first mentioned in July 2022, referral to a chronic fatigue service in March 2023  after no physical cause found. Rejected referring April 2023. Nothing at all by way of help or support, no cause found or even looked into. Another referral in Oct 2023, which was rejected. A second referral done, that is still not accepted. It's pending, and more and more demands placed.

I feel there are several organisations involved in failing to treat, or deny treatment for fatigue. 

If the chronic fatigue services reject because of mental health diagnosis, but the mental health service refuse to do anything.

For nearly 2 years I have been left to struggle.  Not knowing the cause of fatigue is causing huge amounts of worry. The fatigue has only got worse, no service will help. The ICB have done nothing to address the gap in service provision, despite telling me that they can compel a service to assess, and that I can be referred anywhere. Neither is true, and 9 months after making them aware that there is a gap in service provision, there is still nothing at all.

The chronic fatigue service probably realise that by refusing to even consider treating because of a mental health diagnosis (that was well managed and stable at time of referral) they will cause a patients mental health to deteriorate, and they can then reject the referral on that basis. I believe that is what has happened to me. They refuse to answer why they won't accept the referral, they refuse to explain why they continually move goalposts for what they need before considering. They will most likely reject the referral once they eventually get all they need due to mental health not being stable. It was, but is no longer, too much time has passed with no support or treatment. Fatigue, not knowing cause, no hope of improvement,  knowing that services willing to act in ways that are detrimental has completely removed any benefits that an antidepressant was providing.

The mental health service are aware they are obstructing a referral, they are aware that they have refused to consider treating the fatigue, despite guidelines existing, and so a second service acting in a way to worsen both physical and mental health. 

Whilst every Service points to some other service as responsible to help, both the fatigue and mental health have got worse. I have not been seen by either service, despite requests made. 

A year after the first referral to chronic fatigue was rejected there has still been no help, support or treatment for fatigue. Nearly two years since first asking for help with the fatigue there has been absolutely nothing. 

Now, I have a situation where fatigue has got even worse, making everyday life to hard. Mental health has got worse because I have no idea what is causing the fatigue, and no hope of it improving, because no Service wants to help.

It seems clear to me that the minute a mental health diagnosis is given, a patient can expect to not even be shown basic consideration. Access to services, care, treatment becomes limited. Basically, it feels like I cease to exist as a person.