"Mixed mental health care in leeds"

Thank you for sharing your story here on Patient Opinion. It certainly highlights what a difference compassionate services can make in a crisis, and how vitally important staff attitudes to people in distress are. I'm Ray Wallum, and I manage the five adult day hospitals (we call them Acute Community Services) that the Partnerships Foundation Trust has around the city. I realise you haven't commented directly on our ACSs, but I just wanted to thank you for posting and to acknowledge the turbulent few weeks it sounds like you've had. I know the LGI and Ambulance Trust monitor this site, so they will also see the feedback you have given them. 
 Obviously it's really concerning to hear that you felt that you had to discharge yourself from the LGI at such a distressing time - if you'd like to talk more about this then our PALS (Patient Advice and Liaison Service) Team would be more than happy to get some more information from you. They can be contacted on 0800 0525 790, or by e-mail. Our Trust does have a small team at the LGI and so I cannot be sure if the nurse who you met was one of our staff, or belonged to the Teaching Hospitals Trust. In the event that it was a member of our staff I would be keen to raise your experience directly with them, as you should reasonably expect at the very least good manners from any nurse who is involved in your care. You might want to pursue this by asking ACS staff to arrange for you to meet with me to let me have a bit more information, or as I said the PALS team is at your disposal. Of course you're under no obligation to take the matter any further, but please be assured that we're ready to listen to you and to liaise with the Teaching Hospitals Trust if appropriate. Moving on, I'm sure the staff at the ACS will have told you about some of the out-of-hours support which is available to you. Just to repeat though, that if you do find yourself in crisis or having thoughts of wanting to harm yourself you can always contact NHS Direct on 0845 4647. I'm really glad your friend was able to get help for you from the emergency services. Alternatively, the Leeds Survivor-Led Crisis Service offer wonderful non-judgmental support through the Connect Helpline on 0808 800 1212 (which is open until 10.30pm every night) and in person at Dial House (which is open Friday to Sunday, 6pm til 2am). More details can be found on their website. I wish you all the best in your recovery, and I hope that any future encounters you have with services embrace the balance of professionalism and kindness which has obviously meant a great deal to you. Ray Wallum Clinical Services Manager