"Terrible experience with Liaison Psychiatry"

I had assumed the liaison psychiatrist would help me when I was overloaded with adverse events in my life (mine and my family's serious health issues, and my panic in hospital settings due to past trauma). Instead I ended up significantly more distressed as a result of their involvement. Their approach was arrogant, I felt they sneered at me and they definitely didn't take a collaborative approach. But the main problems came to light when I saw my notes and found that, unbeknown to me, they had resurrected 40-year-old mental health information (much of which was wrong and I can prove this) and, without my permission, disclosed all this ancient history to a breast surgeon and my GP. In subsequent letters they made errors, attributed things to me that I didn't say or were the opposite of what I'd said, took scenarios out of context - this always being to my detriment, skewed events such that even my achievements were presented in a negative light, and made many assumptions most of which were wrong. They even managed to convert my happy childhood into a problem. They divulged the most personal information about me - information which I thought would be treated confidentially, otherwise I would never have agreed to the sessions.

I could have understood the odd misunderstanding but there is virtually nothing in their letters that accurately reflects me or the multiple adverse events that I faced. Their assessments are so far off the mark that neither family nor friends recognise me in these. One friend even laughed as they thought it was some kind of joke. It is no joke.

I asked the psychiatrist how I could have been labelled with so many personality disorders given my highly successful career, a happy long-standing marriage and several close friends and social networks. This has never been explained. In fact the psychiatrist didn't even give me the diagnoses - I found out from my notes and had to research what they meant. I was given virtually no opportunity to ask about them and get clarity about the underpinning errors/assumptions.

I held off writing this because I didn't want to make a public statement when it is so negative and I know there are some good, caring people who work in the NHS.  But I feel obliged to let prospective patients know that, on the basis of my experience, regardless of what you say to a doctor, they may write anything in your notes and it will not necessarily be changed even if you have proof of your position or can provide witness testimony. Please do not assume that anything you say will be treated confidentially - it may but, as in my case, it may not. Be careful. I now have a host of errors in my medical records. As a result I am reticent to approach any NHS doctor even for physical conditions despite my having a need. I don't have a problem with having psychiatric labels - I have a problem with having wrong ones.

The inaccuracies and unsanctioned disclosures have really distressed me and they continue to impact my quality of life. And in the meantime, the issues for which I originally sought help have not been addressed. All I've ended up with is even more stress which has now taken a toll on my physical health.

It is too late for me - the damage is done, but in terms of improvements for the future perhaps patients could be given the option of having their sessions audio recorded. If involved with mental health services again, I would certainly probe what they mean by confidentiality and I would ask to see my notes on an ongoing basis. If that had been available to me I would have known there was a major problem at an early stage and stopped the sessions with liaison psychiatry immediately.

You ask how I feel about my care. Well, I think the answer is obvious.  in my opinion It wasn't care I received. It was damage: damage that I feel was delivered in an offensive and disrespectful way. But I appreciate the opportunity to leave feedback and hope it might help someone else.