"Initial appointment"

I am writing this on behalf of my daughter as she asked me to as she is so upset. Please understand that whole families can be effected by one family members illness . My daughter said that she saw a nurse who did not seem to have the necessary clarity and listening skills to ascertain her needs properly and indeed did not display empathy or understanding of the serious nature of my daughters condition. A member of staff who weighed her and took other statistics was very kind and attentive and understood how upset she was. After waiting for another 2 hours she was finally seen by a doctor who at first repeated the nurses inaccurate statements to my daughter, until my daughter produced a letter which stated her diagnoses. The doctor did not have this available on the computer system. The doctor was unsure they would have time to read it but when they did and saw the serious nature of her condition the doctor gave her the news that she would get a care plan and hopefully the help she needs.

I cannot underline enough the absolutely despairing condition of my daughter. When someone is not heard and they are distressed it makes that distress much worse. Why would someone try to convince a person with a long lasting severe condition to minimise their symptoms ? Why should a distressed person have to repeat statements and yet still have their words recorded inaccurately? Waiting for such a long time is difficult enough for someone without a mental health condition let alone someone who has been suffering from a condition of ten years duration who is at their wits end. I suggest that all nurses in your facility are instructed to record what a client says accurately, to listen , and to treat the person in their care professionally. My daughter gave me permission to write this. She worries that it might effect the quality of her care. I trust it won't.