"Still awaiting correct treatment of psychotherapy"

Since June 2022 I have been waiting for appropriate support from Rushcliffe Mental Health Services. 

In that time I have raised my concerns via here once and via PALS but I’m still not receiving care. Despite speaking to at least 3 senior leaders in the service. It appears none of them are having oversight and ensuring things are followed up, I feel they are just providing a lip service to close a complaint and then allowing nothing to happen. 

When I was first referred in June 2022, it was suggested I need a CPN and psychotherapy as this is what I was receiving prior to moving to this area. 

Still nearly 2 years later I’m not receiving either. 

The counselling was counterproductive after 16 of 29 appointments the counsellor missed, see my previous story on here. 

I raised a complaint in August 2023, to be told by senior staff that the service was too busy and both psychologists were unable to see me. 

This was then followed up again by another senior staff member after a further complaint and I was then seen by the psychologist in November 2023. I was told I’d see them on a regular basis but this turned out to be one appointment instead, but they were clear in what they felt I needed, stabilisation and then psychotherapy. 

I was not referred to stabilisation or therapy so had to complain again in January 2024. This was picked up by a senior team member and they referred me to Mind Nottinghamshire and told me they would arrange an appointment for us to meet again before I come to the end of the sessions to discuss psychotherapy. 

I received some great stabilisation sessions from Mind Nottinghamshire which ended at the end of March. I made contact with Rushcliffe LMHT towards the end of March to speak to the clinical lead but they were unavailable so I left a message, I did not receive a call back. I asked my employment support specialist based at Rushcliffe to ask the senior team member to give me a call. Still to this date I have not had a call back. 

The stabilisation work has started to undo as I cannot be in a positive mindset when I’m left with not knowing how I’m ever going to move on when I’m waiting for therapy constantly, the one thing that will really help me to manage the trauma. 

The experience with Rushcliffe has been very traumatic, I’ve definitely noticed my mental health decline since being under this service. 

Nottinghamshire mental health services are receiving very negative press due to its failures elsewhere and I’ve refrained from commenting when asked by media outlets because for me I just want the RIGHT treatment. 

I foolishly believed that PALS, and all the other senior staff would eventually ensure the right service was received. I feel I am being failed.

I’m now passing this complaint onto the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman with the hope this will ensure I finally receive some beneficial support from Nottinghamshire Mental Health Services. 

I don’t want to hear from anyone other than someone who can actually put in place the psychotherapy that was suggested back in June 2022 and again in November 2023.