"The Trust needs to be reasonable and honest"

I've been through Hell trying to access mental health services. I waited 3 years to see a clinical psychologist. I received 20 sessions and was then discharged back to my doctor, even though I hadn't made a clinically significant improvement. I was told that I could be re-referred for assessment at any time.

My situation deteriorated and I went back to my GP as advised. The wait to be treated by a clinical psychologist this time was 3 years and 3 months, and the waiting time was extremely stressful and harrowing. The team leader told me in November 2016 that they were sorry that it must feel as though I've been dragged through the mud. My issue is this: it is one thing to acknowledge that a patient has been treated badly, but if this is the case, why is it ok to then carry on doing this? It is one thing to let a patient down, and apologise - but why then do you continue to let patients down?

I want Cumbria Partnership to learn from its mistakes and improve its services for patients, not to keep causing patients repeated distress. It is not OK to lie to patients - the NHS should be honest and accountable. I have requested a "resolution meeting" but rather than creating problems which then need resolving, the Trust needs to avoid the distress in the first place, by being reasonable and honest with patients, not going back on what they have told patients will happen.