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"Community mental health nurses visit"

About: Leeds and York Partnership NHS Foundation Trust / Adult mental health

(as the patient),

I was due a visit by Community Mental Health Nurses from Leeds for an assessment one midweek morning. Two young ladies turned up 10 mins before the appointment when the letter only informed me about one, they knocked, posted a note to say they had called & I wasn't in, plz phone the number to re-arrange appt. Turning up even 10 mins early through me off my preparation & I hadn't locked the back door. I heard the letterbox, saw a note on floor, picked up the note then went to peek through the curtains to see two ladies stood there when the original letter only mentioned one. I let them in myself when in fact I had arranged for someone to stay over solely for the purpose of them opening the door but they were in the loo. They entered, I didnt ask who the second person was or refuse them entry but found I was quite nervous & distracted because the second person being present even though I understand it is probably because of security reasons.

I began to open up to the nurses having sensed a caring attitude but during the conversation we heard my back door shut & I was very shaken & scared. Apparently the person who had been there earlier had come in via the back door which I would have locked or checked before appointment started & I believe he stood there listening to me talk about very private & personal things that I havent told anyone about in all my life. The nurse/ assessor told me it was quite apparent for a number of reasons that they would get me out of this unsuitable property, get my priority B re-housing upto an 'A' & that they would write me a letter of support within about 7 days that I could hand over to Welfare Rights or someone who would help me claim PIP etc or other suitable benefits.

 I informed them I was depressed most of my life since childhood due to traumatic events & throughout my life, they asked me if I had a mental illness to which I said NO I dont know, but how would I know? Surely the whole point of them coming to assess me was for them to see if I had, perhaps something like bipolar or manic? ? ? They also informed me that I should take time to think about what I needed in life right now, wether id benefit from a carer etc due to several health issues that will deteriorate & that they would be in touch later to discuss this. They never asked for the depression sheet I filled in that they had sent previously or sent that letter of support out. They were in touch with me via the phone recently, no mention of letter, no mention of housing support, just told me the police would be in touch at some point to discuss problems I had experienced & so would adult social care. I just feel these young ladies went through the motions, did not really care & havent carried out their job fully - I feel abandoned by GP, IAPT, Physchotherapy services, ESA, ESA Tribunal service - everybody!

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Responses

Response from Andrew Howorth, Head of Patient Experience, Leeds and York Partnership NHS Foundation Trust 7 years ago
Andrew Howorth
Head of Patient Experience,
Leeds and York Partnership NHS Foundation Trust
Submitted on 15/07/2016 at 09:22
Published on Care Opinion at 10:33


Dear Mr AAC,

I am so very sorry to read of your experience, it sounds very confusing, and not at all clear.

It is difficult for me to identify which area you live in, and which Community mental health team you will come under. During an assessment I would expect you to be told clearly who you are talking to, what they are recommending and what the next steps are. You do not seem to have been given this information, and I am very sorry about this.

Would you feel able to either reply via this posting, or to contact our PALS service, so that we can look at getting you whatever support would be best. We do not want you to feel abandoned or alone. Please do get in touch.

Our PALS service is contactable by telephone on 0800 052 5790 (free phone number) or on email at pals.lypft@nhs.net

We look forward to hearing from you,

with very kind wishes

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