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Don`t have a mental health crisis at the weekends…

Story from nhs.uk

"Don`t have a mental health crisis at the weekends…"

About: Leighton Hospital

Don`t have a mental health crisis at the weekend!!Yesterday I accompanied my friend who had been taken by ambulance to accident and emergency. He has a serious mental illness and was having suicidal thoughts and delusions.

After a long wait he was eventually seen by a mental health nurse who said she couldn`t prescribe him any medication because he needed to be seen by his psychiatrist who didn`t work at weekends.

When I asked if there was another psychiatrist in the hospital I was astounded to be told that no, they don`t work weekends.

This mental health nurse eventually got one of the A&E doctors to agree to prescribe him some medication to calm him down but only after I told her how unhappy I felt about taking him home in the state he was in, especially as I have young children and he could not be left on his own due to the suicide risk.

When we were eventually issued with a prescription we had a mad dash to try and find the only pharmacy open on a Sunday at 5pm in Crewe, as we were told the hospital pharmacy stops dispensing at 4pm.

I would like to ask Leighton hospital if they think its acceptable that there are no psychiatrists working at weekends-do people only have a mental health crisis Monday to Friday 9 to 5?

Do people not need medication around the clock?

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Responses

Response from Leighton Hospital 16 months ago
Leighton Hospital

Submitted on 12/12/2022 at 09:37
Published on nhs.uk at 14:46

Dear friend,

I am sorry about your experience of A&E at the weekend but please be reassured that there is support in place 24hrs a day 7 days a week. In the first instance we always recommend that a person with an underlying mental health issues is supported by their mental health community team and that they have a regular plan for getting there prescribed medications on a weekly basis so not to run out. If they are not supported by a specific mental health service then we recommend the GP. I have not got the details of your friends specific case but please let me reassure you that CWP have a dedicated crisis telephone support line that is available for all to ring for support and advise around mental health and they are able to formulate a patient centred response based on the telephone assessment or when clinically indicated assess the person face to face. There is information about this on the internet and there telephone number is 08001456485. Along side this CWP also has dedicated crisis cafes in both the Crewe, Chester and Macclesfield areas where people presenting in crisis are able to go and seek appropriate support. During the weekend the acute hospitals do have access to a consultant on call and can get 24hr advise if staff need this to support patient care. At times of clinical need the consultant is able to respond and offer appropriate support / review within the hospital setting.

Kind regards,

Sally Hartley

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