In May this year, I tried to call the crisis team in for my partner, who was suffering a serious relapse in her mental health.
I always believed that the team were there 24/7 but, no. Couldn't get an answer until 9am on the Saturday morning. Details were taken over the phone, who asked me to ring another number (which I did).
After going through all the details again on the new number, (social services) I was told that someone would ring me back when they get in. After about an hour, someone did ring and asked me why I had rang them? I explained I had been told to and they made a few calls then rang me back again and left a voicemail. They said they had rang the crisis team and requested they attend to assess my partner. They had said "they're not prepared to do that and quite frankly, I can't make them!...So, there we are I'm afraid". My daughter phoned 111 for advice. The operator made a few calls then phoned me back. They sent an ambulance, (which was on site for an hour and a half) but my partner would not go in it, so it was stood down.
Next morning. The social worker rang me again to say they were going down with 2 doctors to assess my partner and could I be there to let them in? This was done and they left to set things in motion to admit her. About 4 hours later, they returned with another ambulance. BUT. She still wouldn't go in the ambulance. Police were called and waited another hour. They called the police again but they refused to get involved without a warrant.
This left her alone all night again and all day Monday. Tuesday, I got another call from the social worker asking me to be there again to let them in, as they were coming with an ambulance again and the police would be in attendance this time.
A successful admission to West Park Hospital was made this time. A big thank you to the social workers and the marvellous ambulance crews (3)
What I want to know is! ! Why the crisis team did not respond when requested. As she had only been out of hospital 9 weeks, surely this should have set alarm bells ringing! This needs looking into!
"Why did the Crisis Team not respond when requested?"
About: North East Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust / NHS 111 North East Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust NHS 111 Newcastle Upon Tyne NE15 8NY Tees, Esk And Wear Valleys NHS Foundation Trust / Crisis resolution Tees, Esk And Wear Valleys NHS Foundation Trust Crisis resolution TS6 0SZ
Posted by Let down carer (as ),
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