Over the past week I have experienced and been on the receiving end of some pretty abysmal care. The list of things that I feel I would be justified to complain about are:
*Having to wait 48 hours to receive a call after my GP highlighted to services I was in crisis.
*Being offered an appointment with Crisis team only to be told 5 mins later that I had to see my care co-ordinator first at a different location that I couldn’t physically get to.
*I then had no choice but to make the distressing trip to A and E where even though I was seen by triage quickly I waited 4 hours to be seen by the mental health team.
*When we were seen I was asked where I had been as I had been apparently called an hour and a half earlier. We hadn’t moved the entire time and proof of that would be on CCTV. We weren’t believed at the time though.
*One of the things I needed was more diazepam which I requested at the initial assessment but this wasn’t passed on to the crisis team who I was referred on to.
*At my 2nd Crisis team appointment over the weekend a lone male came to see me when it clearly says in my notes that a female must be present.
*I was refused Diazepam that I had been promised even though it is on my care plan.
*When I asked to see a doctor about this this carried out a conversation in public in reception.

I also have seen some excellent examples of our NHS which give me hope and also need to be written about:
*My GP has been absolutely fantastic and kept in contact throughout, supported me and also the doctors receptionists have gone beyond the call of duty.
*At A and E the pre-triage nurse was absolutely brilliant and ensured the triage nurse saw me very quickly even if the mental health team then kept me waiting.
*I have now had 2 excellent crisis team appointments and the staff have really supported me and finally I am getting some support.

So whether I make a complaint is my next dilemma. I am a governor of the trust so don’t want to be a trouble maker but I think it is important for me to highlight the mistakes, and the excellent examples of care. I am thinking of complaining just about the points I can prove as I always get upset when it is my word against a professionals and obviously I am never believed.
Whatever I do I want it to be constructive and ensure it makes a difference.