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Cancelled psychiatry appointments

Posted By Elemental211

"Cancelled psychiatry appointments"

About: Western Isles Hospital

(as a service user),

I am using the psychiatry service but I keep having problems with my appointments being cancelled. I tried to find out why this is happening but when I do I feel like it is turned around on me and I am told that I can get in touch if they need them, but shouldn’t my appointments be routine?

Recently I got two letters on the same day, one to give me an appointment and one to cancel it. The length of time between appointments is months. I feel like this is too long to wait. It's been just over six months since my last appointment.

The situation makes me feel as if I am not sick enough to warrant another appointment. I am alone and lonely, and it is hard. It is making me doubt myself and ask myself if I really am sick because if I was, surely I should have an appointment.

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Responses

Response from Denise Symington, Patient Focus Public Involvement, Clinical Governance, NHS Western Isles 9 years ago
Denise Symington
Patient Focus Public Involvement, Clinical Governance,
NHS Western Isles

Lead Advisor to NHS Western Isles on Public Engagement and Service Change

Submitted on 13/10/2015 at 11:25
Published on Care Opinion at 11:34

picture of Denise Symington

Dear Elemental211

Firstly let me thankyou for taking the time to give us your feedback which we welcome. I wish to apologise for the problems that you have faced with your appointments I passed on your comments to our Associate Director of Mental Health.

In relation to your rearranged appointment he has suggested that should you feel that you require support prior to your next appointment with your psychiatrist please contact your GP or Community Psychiatric Nurse, if you are seeing a CPN.

As your patient story has focused upon the impact of cancelled appointments our Associate Director for Mental Health would be happy to meet with you in person to discuss your situation in more detail. This would help us to explore the reasons for cancellations, issues re delayed letters, how we can communicate better with patients, and allow us to make improvements to the system. Alternatively if you feel that you are unable to meet face to face, you can provide us with additional details on Patient Opinion.

I hope that this feedback has provided you with some reassurance

Yours sincerely

Denise

  • {{helpful}} {{helpful == 1 ? "person thinks" : "people think"}} this response is helpful

Update posted by Elemental211 (a service user)

The Associate Director has said they are happy to meet me, however I’ve already met a person about two years ago but nothing happened.

I feel as if I have no relationship with the psychiatrist, this is difficult when I live on an island. I’ve been diagnosed with chronic severe depression and can’t keep fighting to try and see a psychiatrist. The way I’m feeling now I don’t even know if I even want to see the psychiatrist. I feel so let down.

You also say I could go to my GP, this is true, and I would as I feel as if can talk to him, but can my GP deal with my depression medication? Isn’t that the psychiatrist’s job?

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