"Bolton RAID and HBT Team Experiences"

I have debated leaving a review of my experiences but do feel it is important to feedback to you what it can be like to be a service user with GMMH. First off, I have experiences of mental health care on and off with your trust for several years and have both positive and negative experiences.

I have encountered RAID in Bolton on two occasions last month. Whilst it was good to talk and be listened to, what has been written in my discharge notes to my GP has many inaccuracies. After my second encounter with RAID I was placed under the HBT Team, but it was too little too late. I ended up in ICU hours later and then I volunteered to go to Oak Ward. Is it too much to ask you to have a better supply of blankets on wards? One thin blanket on a bed when it’s cold is not ideal, especially when you are physically and mentally unwell. I also did not appreciate the actions of the registrar who threatened to section me on 5(2) when I tried to leave as a voluntary patient. Apparently, I was deemed a risk. It is a real shame no-one in RAID considered that risk days earlier when I was in A&E pleading for help.

Initially the first week under the HBT Team was ok after my ward discharge, except for the extremely short visit by one member of your team and the incorrect messages passed on so the wrong visit was cancelled. I also found it unhelpful that someone answered the phone in the early hours of the morning with just a ‘Hello’ I thought I had dialled the wrong number. It would be polite to say who you were and reassuring to the person calling for help.

Three people who have visited me have stood out as being caring and understanding, one was my keyworker, who I feel has got to know me over the weeks I have been under the HBT Team. However, come week two onwards visits were not planned, so I had no real idea of who was visiting, when or the approximant times. I found this frustrating especially since I have caring responsibilities and, so I am not always at home.

My biggest annoyance though has been getting people to listen to what I was trying to communicate or ask. It took almost two weeks before a prescription for something to sleep was issued and this was after being promised it for 5 days, but everyone forgot to bring it up in your daily MDT Meetings. In fact, that is the biggest issue, not being fed back things about my care. I was never given a care plan or have had my original one from two years ago updated. Staff also need to see beyond a diagnostic label.

After almost five weeks under the HBT Team I have not really moved forward, this is despite me engaging with your team and being open and honest. I appreciate you may have many patients to visit and care for (I read somewhere a maximum of 45 at any one time with the HBT Team) but sometimes it’s just the simple things like giving notice of visits / times, or perhaps making accurate notes that are helpful to people under your care.