"My mental health history being disclosed in referral"

In December 2019 I started to experience generalised joint pain, swelling and deterioration in function and mobility in all my joints.  I have a family history of Rheumatoid Arthritis and associated auto immune diseases so felt I better get it checked out.

My GP ran blood tests, one of which suggested an issue with the Lupus antibody.  I was therefore referred to  the Rheumatology Clinic in Stonehouse Hospital mid February 2020.  I also have a history of depression and low mood and chronic pain following a spinal injury.   I have been under the care of Psychiatry, the Community Mental Health Team and a CPN for a few years.

I arrived for the Rheumatology appointment and was greeted by a member of staff who stated, I understand that you are under the care of the Community Mental Health Team and Psychiatry.

I felt absolutely humiliated! 

The disclosure on the letter of referral about my mental health history had absolutely no relevance to what I was attending for yet it absolutely dictated how I was  treated. The felt I had been labelled before I even sat down.  The staff member discharged me from the clinic and as I was leaving they told me I could pick up leaflets on Fibromyalgia and Raynaulds Syndrome on my way out.

I understand about full disclosure and the importance of providing accurate patient history in a letter of referral, but by putting my mental health history front and centre of this letter it completely prejudiced the way I was treated. I have now asked for a second opinion and am awaiting a response.

The experience left me feeling humiliated and betrayed.  Yes, I am the first one to admit I suffer from depression, but when I present with physical symptoms and a family history I expect to be treated on an even playing field. I had hoped that discrimination of this type was a thing of the past in the 21st century, sadly not!