My brother has been a long term LYPFT patient, and he is on the austic spectrum. We are a very close knit Muslim family.
At first I thought the amount of criticism the Crisis Team at the Becklin Center was getting was unfair, but then spoke to my family and realised that it was understandable.
My uncle said he went to the big SUN meeting in September, and one of the female board members chairing the meeting said that the hospital was committed to working with all the people of Leeds, and things like religion were important, but less important than for other hospitals, because patients rarely die so they don’t have to worry about burial and respect for bodies.
Prompt burial is important for Muslims, but Muslims are also Muslim during their life. Physical health and mental health are different, and what might be important for a physical health doctor, might not be important for a mental health doctor and vice versa.
Lets look at the simple handshake
Hospital Consultant- Does not care if my brother shakes her hand, wont record anything about handshakes, might internally pass judgement.
Pyschiatrist- The patient did not shake my hand!!. In a letter to our GP the psychiatrist wrote “____ avoided shaking my hand, difficult to build rapport”
My perspective(I was at the appointment): She has fake nails, a ring, and coughed into her hand GERM ALERT!! I would rather not shake your hand, but I will so you don’t get offended
My brother read the letter written to the GP and was hurt. He thinks the psychiatrist doesent like him, and was quick to judge. He said he was trying to be respectful, because Muslim people will try to avoid touching people of the opposite sex.
Religion/race/ethnicity is important, and the way a Mental Health Hospital will encounter it is different to what matters in physical health. People should do more talking and less assuming. It could all have been avoided in the doctor asked about the handshake instead of using a "two plus two equals five” approach.
Leadership matters, and if senior people don’t realise every area of healthcare encounters culture then there is no hope.
"Tries but misses the mark"
About: Leeds and York Partnership NHS Foundation Trust Leeds and York Partnership NHS Foundation Trust Leeds LS7 3JX
Posted via nhs.uk
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