"The Home Treatment Team"

I previously left a review based on my initial experience of the HTT. I met with a woman who deals with patient centred care. She listened; I got an appointment. Some observations and suggestions based on my experience:

- many of the individual team members seem nice enough. Some of them may even be competent. Unfortunately, taken as a team, I still think "inept" is not an unfair description.

- If you don't have a voice recorder on your phone: download one, and record _everything_. I tried to voice my concerns to a manager, but:

~ my concerns were immediately dismissed, with comments like, "oh, I'm sure [that person] wouldn't have said that". I have audio recordings that prove otherwise.

~ apparently, accurate diagnoses do not matter. I mentioned an autism spectrum assessment which had not been properly completed, I got a lecture about the value of "letting things go"

~ the manager was very dismissive about my concerns regarding my medication; her response was questionable, at best

- The team do not apparently keep accurate records.

- The team do not do what they say they will. I was provided with a care plan and an escalation plan. This said to contact them if I wanted or needed to change my medication. When I did this, my request was ignored; the prescribing doctor refused to speak with me about the side effects I was experiencing.

- During one meeting, one of the team asked if I would consider inpatient treatment. I said no. She also told me that I had the capacity to decide whether to commit suicide. I was told on the same day that they were discharging me from their service.

- I was told I couldn't speak with anyone about aspects of the care/escalation plan I was unhappy with.

- I went to Holly Court wanting to have a conversation with someone within the crisis team regarding the medication and the care plan, but was told that no-one would see me. I said I'd wait until someone was free. That took eight hours. I was accused of staging a "sit in" by the manager. If they actually did what they said they would, there wouldn't have been a problem. The prescribing psychiatrist continued to refuse to speak with me about the medication issues.

- It would appear no-one at Holly Court properly understands learning difficulties (I have diagnosed ADHD). Despite the NICE guidelines stating that specialist services should be available, they aren't

- The HTT team discharged me to the community team with an appointment that didn't exist.

- The community team subsequently gave me an appointment with an unsuitable specialist. I reluctantly cancelled it.

- I am now having to purchase the medication - for which I have previously had an NHS prescription - off an internet pharmacy. This is costing me c. £100 a month.

It's scary when you realise that you're probably stronger and more competent than the service that's supposed to be "supporting" you.

I have run out of space - I could have written much more.