"Highly distressing experience"

My dad is know to the mental health service and has been diagnosed as being bi-polar.

He is awaiting a date for surgery and becomes elated when receiving a date, but also has been known to develop a full mania as a result of this elation and the idea of his life and mobility dramatically improving after having this surgery done.

Sadly, in October 2016 his hypomania was so extreme that the anaesthetist on the night before surgery made the decision that my dad could not undergo an anaesthetic until his mental health was more stable. He was advised that he should be admitted to woodlands view (the psychiatric ward) and that once he was stable he would be priority to have his surgery done).

He had a five week stay in Woodlands view and was stabilised. His orthopaedic consultant then was off sick and his surgery was delayed further. My dad was informed that he would have a date in August to have his surgery done.

Since becoming aware of this date of operation my dad began to show signs of mania. We contacted the GP, who suggested contacting the CPN. My dad was readmitted for a period of ten days and discharged again. As the date for surgery became closer, dad began to become more elated and unable to sleep, started writing lists and behaving in a more demanding way, having urgency of speech and demonstrating irrational behaviours. I attempted to seek help from his Gp who prescribed Diazepam, and also the CPN and his Consultant.

I was aware that if my dad became more irrational in his behaviours that he was at risk of having his operation cancelled again. He was happy to be re-admitted to Woodlands View again but I struggled to be able to arrange admission for him. I tried contacting the doctor via their secretary and to no avail. My dad was becoming more manic by the hour and I felt that there was no support from the healthcare professionals.

I eventually managed to have my dad admitted through emergency ambulance and police arrest under the vulnerable persons act, he was arrested in his own home and taken to hospital against his will. He was in hospital for 2 weeks (detained) with no improvement in his condition. I was told that my dad was very unwell. I am devastated that he had to reach this stage, especially after being known to the mental health services.

Surely there should be an easy access referral route for vulnerable persons where carers can access support for them when behaviours are suggestive of deterioration in their well-being. Lastly I must add that Woodlands view, Ward 4 all of the staff have been so caring and amazing. It's just distressing that it has taken so long to have my dad admitted and assessed, which has resulted in him becoming aggressive and irritated and very angry with all members of his family and all carers and health professionals.

I am a professional, working in the NHS and my brother is too and my sister. I have had 5 weeks off work with the stress and anxiety due to the acuteness of my dad's condition and my sister has had to come home from Australia in order help manage my dad's behaviour and to support me and my brother through this traumatic and highly distressing experience. We feel an extreme lack of support and had no one to turn to and we worry about what happens the next time my dad has a relapse