"Is there anybody there?"

I was having a really bad time and feeling like topping myself. I saw my GP and the doctor told me I could refer myself to the Emotional Wellbeing Service. So it was that I phoned them first thing on a Monday morning. I phoned and I phoned and I phoned and I phoned and I phoned...I phoned for 20 minutes straight. No-one would answer the phone. I tried half an hour later and again nobody picked the phone up. I tried late morning and the line was continually engaged. When it did ring no-one answered. I tried again in the afternoon. Engaged again. No answer when it did ring. I tried just before the end of the day. This time someone picked up the phone. I was then told admin had gone home for the day and that there was no-one available to help me. I felt gutted and even more distressed.

I phoned the next day and after waiting 25 minutes for an answer, finally a person answered. They came across as disinterested, unhelpful and obstructive. I explained how many times I'd phoned. The person was unmoved. The person really didn't want to give me an appointment. In the end I told them to forget it. I've since gone private. They made me feel like I was a nuisance.

My experience of the Emotional Wellbeing Service was far from good. They give the impression they just don't care about the public. They just won't pick the phone up. Useless NHS. Rubbish admin, hopeless management. If that's the case what is the point of this service? Trendy, touchy feely, fly by night NHS services like this are a waste of taxpayers money and should be scrapped.