West Strand House Community Mental Health Team - Lancashire & South Cumbria Foundation Trust

They refused to help me got rejected by their service and lied to,caused me to go into crisis more than once.

Stressful

I was prescribed medication by the psychiatrist who sent it to my GP. I have been pulled on and off psyc meds before and did not want to risk the side effects of this.
He assured me he was writing to my GP and it would be on repeat and I would experience no issues. After waiting months for a psyc appointment to help my PTSD I am left with 14 days worth of meds and my GP says no repeat pre was ever instructed. I am so disappointed to have been lied to by this service.

I immediately received a sly transphobic micro-aggression the moment I sat down after asking the woman I was seeing to use my preferred name. I was made to show scars on my body after talking about how I have experienced self harm throughout my life. I was repeatedly asked questions that I did not understand how to answer and was provided no further clarification when I made that clear. After finally answering that question towards the end of my initial assessment, I got told that my answer was not sufficient and that CMHT could not 'decide for me what I needed from them'. I was also asked prying questions about my faith and religious beliefs despite being an atheist after discussing my complex views on religion due to a personal experience of trauma. This appointment lead to me being signposted to a service I have already been seen by, as well as me being recommended to speak to my GP about getting an ASD assessment, even though this is something I have pursued in the past once before.

Very poor service, Been passed from pillar to post with different teams within the service for over a year. No actual help or support just stuck me on medication that’s making me worse. For two days i’ve been ringing to tell them i’m not coping on my meds and suprise suprise they don’t answer.

Was discharged while in waiting room as support worker couldn't be bothered to come down, totally refused to see me when the manager went upstairs and told support worker to go and her patient, absolutely shocking, filed a report, therapist is lovely though and the other staff, support worker excuse was, we don't get notified from downstairs when patients are here, appointment was at 13.30, I turned up with wife at 13.06, my phone rang, from upstairs, why not get off your bum and come see ifvim there, absolutely disgusting to he discharged whilst your in the place, this makes me feel not support, jot wanted, and mentally ill, again. Therapy is exhausting and don't need support worker to say I never turned up. 3 x in past I went and support worker wast there, never listened, kept talking about themself, got my name wrong,. Support worker needs to be excused from service, as I got no support only from therapist, the staff on reception, vi always chat to them, [name redacted for privacy] new guy, who sorted support worker out, but point blank refused to come down and see me, west strand have filed an internal investigation, also I'm waiting for pals to contact me and my wife, making a formal complaint and me and wife have been assured this behaviour is totally unacceptable and below the belt, refusing to see a patient has dehumanised me, made me feel small, worthless, if (new guy [name redacted for privacy]) had not been there, and not seeing therapist the day after, my mental health would have been very severe, it's bad enough on a good day, (new guy [name redacted for privacy]), could see it escalating, he calmed me down. Support worker, or no support worker should be in serious trouble, absolutely shocking and disgusted, I'll give 5 stars for all other staff in there, your wonderful. Even though I struggle I've always turned up to appointments, but to be discharged while I'm in waiting room, it's still in my head, I give 5 stars below for all other staff involved. Waiting for pals to contact us, I wasn't never listening to by the person in question, it's medical negligence, I could have gone home and self harmed or worse if (new guy [name redacted for privacy]) hadn't intervened,

They are dealing with mentally ill people and need to understand that we are ill and need understanding, empathy and compassion as opposed to being judgemental, inconsiderate and ignorant. They do not always do what they say. Mentally ill people cling to their words with hope and after weeks of hope and waiting what they have said does not come to fruition. They will excuse their behavior constantly but do not excuse mentally ill peoples.

My partner has struggled with mental health since childhood. Got more support from children’s service if I’m honest. Psychiatrist will not care about your issues at all. Cares more about having less paperwork and accuses people of being on drugs if they’re struggling. He doesn’t care as long as he’s getting paid. Taken my partner off of all their meds and are upping their epilepsy meds without consulting their neurologist first. Didn’t want to listen to anything my partner was struggling with.

I recently needed this service for the second time, and I can't express enough appreciation for the people who work there. The support staff are lovely, and my therapist not only did her best for me, but also went above and beyond to ensure I was referred for the proper care when she realised cognitive therapy wouldn't be adequate. Thanks everyone.

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