"Failure of local NHS Talking Book Therapies"

Dear John,

Thank you for taking the time to provide the service with this feedback. It sounds like you have been experiencing a challenging time with your mental health of late and I appreciate how difficulties accessing mental health services at a time of need can compound these difficulties.

It is really valuable to us to ensure that we are picking up on difficulties of this nature at the point of trying to access the service. Therefore, I would like to support with investigating this matter further, to identify exactly what happened and why this may have been the case as it seems a valuable learning opportunity.

There are two ways in which this could be done, depending on what feels most comfortable for you.

If you would like to, we can arrange a time for us to speak directly, to allow me to get a more in depth understanding of your experience at the point of trying to access Talking Therapies. If you felt comfortable to contact the service on 0300 013 5727 (Option 5) and ask to speak with the Team Lead, I can return a call to arrange an agreed time for us to discuss matters further.

Or, you would be welcome to raise the concern with our Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS) department via either telephone or email, should this feel more comfortable for you. I have included their contact details below and their operating times are Monday-Friday 8:30am-4:30pm, excluding bank holidays.

Email: WHCNHS.PALS@nhs.net

Telephone: 01905 681517

If you do raise the PALS concern, providing further information regarding your experience, it would then be highlighted to me in a manner which would allow me to investigate matters in more detail. I would be happy to update you in writing or via telephone call, if you should wish to go via PALS on the outcome of the investigation.

Kind Regards,