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Do CMHT have to make reasonable adjustments?

DogMama

I have a diagnosis of schizoeffective disorder and ptsd, my psychiatrist is based in the next town, there are no outpatient clinics in my town. I cannot travel (i get swamped with voices and get paranoid about people being non human and hostile) but my psychiatrist says if i cannot travel to appts he will discharge me from his caseload back to gp.

Surely this is a failure to make a reasonable adjustment....i feel like it's a manipulation, witholding care to try to force me to travel. They previously said i couldn't have psychological care unless i said the voices were not real....they are, so i said no,i can't lie just to get support. How can i get support for a serious,long term illness without being manipulated? Is this an attempt to reduce mobility PIP by getting Drs to try to force us to travel? I hardly know my new gp and never see the same one twice...i don't feel like there is anyone in the system i can trust.

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Comments

Rosie_Scope

Hi @DogMama, Sorry to hear you're struggling to get the care you need.

Have you raised a request for reasonable adjustments with them in writing? Sometimes it can help to get everything down in an email or letter so that you can keep a record of what has been said. Do you have an idea of how you could access the appointment in a way that would feel safe for you?

Advocacy services might be able to help if you feel that you'd be able to cope with speaking to them. Mind have a page with lots of links to various services:

Finding an advocate

I hope you can find a way forward soon.

surfygoose

I don’t know if they have to do adjustments but the psychiatrist and care coordinators always do a home visit here. I’m not sure if that’s just because they choose to be understanding or if it’s a requirement for them to do it for people who need it.

Girl_No1

A neighbour of mine has her psychiatric sessions via Zoom. Her CPN visits her at home.

I know this because I look after her two very small children whilst she 'meets' her psychiatrist, and whilst the CPN is there.

DogMama

Mine wants it to be regularly face to face in person, I just can't face the travelling. I'll have to let them discharge me back to GP without any ongoing support.

They said a while ago that there is nothing more they can do for me except meds, so not sure what he's thinking of now. I feel manipulated and i don't trust them.

DogMama

Got a copy of my discharge letter to Gp....the psychiatrist has been less than honest....he claimed he couldn't contact me because i was "involved in other activities" when he called....he knew from our phone conversation yesterday that both times i was at a hospital appt for glaucoma check and hernia appt...so why write it as if i was off gallivanting somewhere?!

He totally minimised the voices and depression and mentioned insomnia as my only problem atm.

I know they need to safeguard resources but it is so disheartening when they are manipulative, how on earth do i trust them again next time i have a crisis. This cmht has done it before, it seems to be their M.O.

I suppose I have to try to get to know a new gp now, hardly ever get to see the same one twice, try to build a relationship of trust in a few minutes a time, on the back of this sort of letter. I feel utterly exhausted and defeated by it all.

worried33

I am interested in this, as I am in a similar boat, but its with my GP surgery, absolute refusal for any type of home visit now, if I want something done I have to go in, last time I went I am still feeling the pain from it now and almost fell 3 times getting in and out of the car.

Just read your last update DogMama, thats awful the NHS has really excessive gate keeping of services at the moment. My GP surgery was asked to provide me mental health support and their response to that was to offer depression tablets.

DogMama

HiHi Worried33, it's exhausting isn't it, especially to have pain and immobility....you'd think they'd make an effort in your case....surely that is what District Nurses are for?

I'm so used to the gatekeeping of resources in MH, i just wish they wouldn't lie/pretend. If they honestly said "we don't have the resources to help you with long term issues so that is the reason for discharge" that'd be better than making it seem like you're feeling so much better, pretending to still be offering a responsible level of service.

I guess the Trust bean-counters and lawyers have told them not to admit to resources effecting care....in case they get sued. How do we trust clinicians medically if they are prepared to lie? I'll never trust them again.