I just dont know what I have done wrong!.

Hi all.

I got a warning from the GP surgery not to email them and to try and engage.

However today I received a text as the email wouldnt work (I know the irony) telling me they are removing me from their list and I have to find a new GP.  TBH I dont know what I have supposed to have done wrong? I mean yeah they did call last week but didnt ask me to call them back, they say I am difficult to engage, yeah I have autism. A couple of times I couldnt make an appointment tha was booked, I always let them know. My phone might had rang when I were asleep, on the bus, away from my phone etc. So I calmed down, and called the practice I asked to speak to the manager, the receptionist wasnt very friendly which made matters worse, she said the manager's decision is final, she dont want to speak to me, thats the end of it.

Now my mental health isnt the best and I was hoping to hear from the GP and CMHT regarding voices, my mental health has had a hard knock from this, is there anything I can do? The British medical council says only a GP can remove you as a last report, not a manager.  I do feel this is maybe discrimination ?? any advice?

BTW re my mental health am trying to keep a lid on things, but this had made me very angry. I was hoping to hear back from the CMHT too as the voices have started again.. I called the out of hours service last night and they were going to call the CMHT today and as per usual theres been no communication.

Parents
  • Well to start with you can complain to PALS (Patient Advice and Liaison Service) and the ICB (integrated care board). GPs are not free to do what ever they want. They have to answer to the NHS and ultimately to the courts too in cases of discrimination.

  • Thank you.  I have contacted the surgery, no luck. The icb I did earlier however they say it will take up to 60 days. Is there anything else I can do now to get the ball rolling?

  • PALS might be faster. It's less formal than  complaint to the ICB but they can act faster because their process is informal.

  • I took your advice contacted the early intervention team who then spoke to the cmht. So gone around in a circle. 

  • Update.  My local MP 'Anna' is going to take on my case and the East Cornwall early intervention team are going to contact me today.

    This sounds very encouraging; I hope the situation improves for you very soon. x

  • Hoping you will be rewarded with some progress (or, at the very least; some further clarification or information).

  • Update.  My local MP 'Anna' is going to take on my case and the East Cornwall early intervention team are going to contact me today.

  • Thanks very much. So helpful. My memory is shocking I forget to explain myself properly. Re. My comment police cmht etc. I believe unless I get on the wrong side of the railings of the tamar bridge for example and threatened to jump no one will ever believe me that I'm struggling. I'm living on a knife edge. 

  • (I am not a Clinician, and I am not giving medical advice, but I am reflecting upon our Family's lived experience).

    If it is the first time of treatment by NHS mental health services for hearing voices and you are between the ages of 14 to 65, you can contact your County's Early Intervention Service. 

    Cornwall has two hubs (one for the West and one for the East).  Although it might be more common for your GP to make the referral, in Cornwall they also accept self-referral (there is a form).

    https://www.cornwallft.nhs.uk/early-intervention-in-psychosis/

    Although I don't quite understand your comment about "cmht police etc want me to try something very dangerous".  (That is your personal mental health business and decision, so I am not asking you to explain that here = do maintain your confidentiality on that point).  What I can say: is that if you were to speak with the Early Intervention Team, usually, I would expect them to listen to you, discuss things with you, they will suggest a range of health tests to help shortlist what might be going on in your case, present to you options and their recommendations and then you make choices as the Service User. 

    If I were you, I would, each time you talk to someone from that Team (and the Clinicians they arrange to help with the health tests - who might be at your GP surgery or your local General Hospital); remind them that you are experiencing hearing voices other people cannot hear, it is impacting how you live your life, you are concerned that your GP is new to you, and that you are Autistic (then gently remind them of the reasonable adjustments which might help you to best navigate healthcare settings and communication styles).

    To help take some emotion out of the equation (reduce having to keep re-explaining yourself - which some people can find triggering / frustrating / invalidating / exhausting), it can be helpful to fill out an Autism or Neurodivergent health passport.

    https://www.autism.org.uk/advice-and-guidance/topics/physical-health/my-health-passport

    If you are worried / nervous / need more information about attending an appointment at Hospital for a health test suggested by the Early Intervention Service, you can contact the Learning Disabilities and Autism, Acute Liaison Team who can help Patients attending Hospital.  This webpage is a bit of a jumble of too many different Team / Groups,  but if you search in the page for the second time "Jane Rees" appears - you can find that Team's contact details:

    https://royalcornwallhospitals.nhs.uk/your-care/safeguarding/#nhs-block-anchor-6

    For many people, it is possible that a plan of treatment means they will no longer hear unwanted voices which other people cannot hear.  It might take quite some time for that change to happen - so please give it the required treatment and time a chance to work (the Early Intervention Service will be able to offer guidance on the average experience they hope will be applicable).

    For a smaller group of people the help they receive means the impact of unwanted voices on their life can be lessened and they can be taught a range of techniques to better manage their experience of hearing unwanted voices.

    If the help were to be available to you; I would encourage you to explore it - to at least find out what they might be able to offer you.  Then you can make an informed decision about treatment.

    My concern is; that the way the CMHT / Police etc. may have introduced or described it might possibly not have been the best summary (because they don't actually provide the service). 

    If you are eligible to discuss it with the Early Intervention Service Team - you might find their approach is actually something with which you personally are prepared to engage and benefit.

  • I believe in order to gain the mental health support I need. The services cmht police etc want me to try something very dangerous so they know I'm not lying about hearing voices. They are challenging me.

Reply
  • I believe in order to gain the mental health support I need. The services cmht police etc want me to try something very dangerous so they know I'm not lying about hearing voices. They are challenging me.

Children
  • I took your advice contacted the early intervention team who then spoke to the cmht. So gone around in a circle. 

  • Thanks very much. So helpful. My memory is shocking I forget to explain myself properly. Re. My comment police cmht etc. I believe unless I get on the wrong side of the railings of the tamar bridge for example and threatened to jump no one will ever believe me that I'm struggling. I'm living on a knife edge. 

  • (I am not a Clinician, and I am not giving medical advice, but I am reflecting upon our Family's lived experience).

    If it is the first time of treatment by NHS mental health services for hearing voices and you are between the ages of 14 to 65, you can contact your County's Early Intervention Service. 

    Cornwall has two hubs (one for the West and one for the East).  Although it might be more common for your GP to make the referral, in Cornwall they also accept self-referral (there is a form).

    https://www.cornwallft.nhs.uk/early-intervention-in-psychosis/

    Although I don't quite understand your comment about "cmht police etc want me to try something very dangerous".  (That is your personal mental health business and decision, so I am not asking you to explain that here = do maintain your confidentiality on that point).  What I can say: is that if you were to speak with the Early Intervention Team, usually, I would expect them to listen to you, discuss things with you, they will suggest a range of health tests to help shortlist what might be going on in your case, present to you options and their recommendations and then you make choices as the Service User. 

    If I were you, I would, each time you talk to someone from that Team (and the Clinicians they arrange to help with the health tests - who might be at your GP surgery or your local General Hospital); remind them that you are experiencing hearing voices other people cannot hear, it is impacting how you live your life, you are concerned that your GP is new to you, and that you are Autistic (then gently remind them of the reasonable adjustments which might help you to best navigate healthcare settings and communication styles).

    To help take some emotion out of the equation (reduce having to keep re-explaining yourself - which some people can find triggering / frustrating / invalidating / exhausting), it can be helpful to fill out an Autism or Neurodivergent health passport.

    https://www.autism.org.uk/advice-and-guidance/topics/physical-health/my-health-passport

    If you are worried / nervous / need more information about attending an appointment at Hospital for a health test suggested by the Early Intervention Service, you can contact the Learning Disabilities and Autism, Acute Liaison Team who can help Patients attending Hospital.  This webpage is a bit of a jumble of too many different Team / Groups,  but if you search in the page for the second time "Jane Rees" appears - you can find that Team's contact details:

    https://royalcornwallhospitals.nhs.uk/your-care/safeguarding/#nhs-block-anchor-6

    For many people, it is possible that a plan of treatment means they will no longer hear unwanted voices which other people cannot hear.  It might take quite some time for that change to happen - so please give it the required treatment and time a chance to work (the Early Intervention Service will be able to offer guidance on the average experience they hope will be applicable).

    For a smaller group of people the help they receive means the impact of unwanted voices on their life can be lessened and they can be taught a range of techniques to better manage their experience of hearing unwanted voices.

    If the help were to be available to you; I would encourage you to explore it - to at least find out what they might be able to offer you.  Then you can make an informed decision about treatment.

    My concern is; that the way the CMHT / Police etc. may have introduced or described it might possibly not have been the best summary (because they don't actually provide the service). 

    If you are eligible to discuss it with the Early Intervention Service Team - you might find their approach is actually something with which you personally are prepared to engage and benefit.