"Appauling care by Winchester CMHT"

The Winchester Community Mental Health Team (CMHT) based at Avalon House are, in my experience, appauling. I would advise people to use an alternative service if possible as the attitudes and behaviours of the staff at the CMHT in my experience have been unacceptable. After moving from a different area as a student, I was left for months with no follow up after an attempt to transfer my care from another secondary mental healthcare trust due to a breakdown in communication. When I followed up with the CMHT, I was told that I would recieve a letter with an assessment. I phoned again when I recieved no such letter and was told that a decision was made at a meeting that there was no need for me to be assessed. I questioned how they could have assessed me without seeing me and an appointment was then arranged for me. However, this letter, which contained personal information, was sent to the incorrect address.

When I finally was able to have an asessment the attitude of the assessing member of staff was very poor. Some of the statements made were completely inappropriate and dismissive of my experiences. I have made a formal complaint about this but so far the trust has refused to apologise for this. They have also refused to alter my healthcare record to remove inaccuracies in the recorded information. In the end, my referral was rejected on the basis of a "low level of risk", even though a few weeks later I had to be seen by the Acute Mental Health Team. I have been told that part of the reason for this is because the Trust I was previously under submitted a new referral rather than a "transfer of care", but I don't see why a patient should have to be responsible for ensuring this. The reception staff and team manager have also been dismissive and unhelpful to both myself and my family.

In summary, my experience with the Winchester CMHT has been very poor and detrimental to my mental health.

N.B. This review relates to the Winchester Community Mental Health Team and no other service provided at Avalon House or by Southern Health. I have had a positive experience with iTalk and the Acute Mental Health Team (AMHT) based at Melbury Lodge.

N.B. I have re-posted this review as I left in accidentally on the wrong page, for Sussex Partnership Trust services raher than Southern Health services. Southern Health have contacted me directly about this review and I need to emphasise this is an ongoing complaint. I will happily alter the review if my opinion of the team is changed by improvements made following my complaint but I am as of yet unconvinced any changes have been made.