"Wait for clinical psychology"

After an extremely long 5 year wait for clinical psychology which during that wait I went through a number of traumatic experiences which also included me being admitted into New Craig’s Psychiatric Hospital in Inverness under a crisis admission at one stage.

I’ve finally got access to clinical psychology although I have to travel a 250 mile round trip from my home in Caithness for the service which I understand I desperately need, It’s just a shame the service is no longer available in Caithness & vulnerable patients have to travel judicious distances when in a physically & mentally draining position.

I understand certain specialist services are only available in Inverness but there clearly needs to be policies & procedures set up to get vulnerable patients from their home environment safely & any NHS Highland manager or Politician who thinks otherwise you have my contact details as I feel some are ignorant to the distance & the impact on one’s health.

I will be commencing clinical psychology again in December when I’ve dealt with the biggest challenge to face me later this month when I give evident at a national inquiry.

Measures have been put in place both by the clinicians & the inquiry team & hopefully I will cope when giving my evidence & experiences of how the establishment have treated me, & I’ve also put things in place myself (self-management).

Once that is dealt with I wish to start the long healing process which will take time & effort from all sides.

Many mental health patients don’t have a voice & I was in that position also until 2014, but since then I have found my voice & somehow I’ve managed to find a way through what I’ve had launched at me since 2014.

I have the up-most respect for the clinicians I have dealings with, but some of the managers I have come into contact with are clueless as to what goes on in the real world.

The most important thing I have learned through clinical psychology so far is ‘it wasn’t my fault’ & ‘I didn’t ask for it’ from the clinical psychologist I see.