"Briliant crisis team struggling to cope with..."

Anything else?

I was admitted in May following an overdose. The medical care was good - although during ward rounds the AMU consultant did the classic 'stand at the end of the bed and talk about you without saying hello' and I had to wait 6 hours for staff to re-canulate me after one came out during the night (this was with me being very insistent it should be done). generally everyone was kind and competent especially since my injury was self-induced. Another compliment to the staff on Ward 7b who made every effort to accomodate me and keep me chipper during my 5 day stay. The night porters especially went above and beyond - thanks guys! Unfortunately, I was admitted on Thursday afternoon but not able to speak to anyone from the Crisis team til Sunday evening. Being in a highly vulnerable state, it was quite difficult to spend such a long period of time dwelling on my suicidal thoughts with no mental health intervention. I have since been back to A&E twice for crisis support. Once I was seen within a couple of hours. The second time my GP phoned ahead at 10.30am to warn them I was coming and in a highly suicidal state. I got in about 11.30, and waited until 15.15, at which point my distressed state started to worry others waiting and I was moved into a cubicle where I was finally seen by the crisis team at 4pm. All the 'physical health' patients were seen before me and several commented how long I had been waiting. An A&E doctor loudly complained to other medical staff that 'the problem was we've got a lot of crisis patients in', which didn't make me feel enormously welcome. When you do see the crisis team they are brilliant, but trying to schedule my mental breakdowns around office hours is a bit tricky! The waiting list for counselling in Liverpool is at least 3 months. Please supply extra funding to this crucial service. It saves lives.