Telephone appointment with psychiatrist

13

Comments

  • Jane315STARX
    Jane315STARX Posts: 996 Championing

    Thank you

  • letitbe
    letitbe Online Community Member Posts: 343 Empowering

    I think you do have the right to ask for a second opinion Jane .
    It’s good you sent an email, hopefully they’ll take that into consideration.

  • Jane315STARX
    Jane315STARX Posts: 996 Championing

    I wrote it directly to the psychiatrist and basically said that I didn't want to offend him but wanted to be direct whilst I was in the right head space ( don't laugh!).Anyway I ended on that I understood that he probably had a heavy work load so my email didn't necessarily warrant a reply by I felt compelled to write How I felt.I think when I'm highly anxious I give off an entirely different persona ( almost walkoverable),if this makes sense?.When I kind of come to I have an inner voice that can sometimes fight/defend what I think is right.I did think there were moments that where he made errors that a junior Dr would've made ( which I find inexcusable really).But who actually questions the judgement of a psychiatrist now with many years under their belt?.I think they get complacent.In my current frame of mind as I write this it is easy to think and know.I know that being put on an Antipsychotic medication 'Quetiapine' by a dr who has spoken to me for 26 mins of my entire life is not a good call.

  • Jane315STARX
    Jane315STARX Posts: 996 Championing

    Yes I'm going to try that x

  • Jane315STARX
    Jane315STARX Posts: 996 Championing

    I have just received a letter which says Discussed in a referral meeting on 24/2/25 a decision was made that local Psychological Therapy services are also not an appropriate intervention for Miss*** and has been declined.The referrer has been advised to refer to Specialist Psychotherapy service.

  • Albus_Scope
    Albus_Scope Posts: 11,423 Scope Online Community Coordinator

    Oh I'm so sorry @Jane315STARX what a pain. Have they given you any numbers or emails to get in touch with the Specialist Psychotherapy Service?

  • Jane315STARX
    Jane315STARX Posts: 996 Championing

    No nothing at all it just says this letter has been copied to your gp and Return to the Referrer

  • Albus_Scope
    Albus_Scope Posts: 11,423 Scope Online Community Coordinator

    Hopefully it'll mean your GP will get in touch and get the referral going for the specialist team then. Fingers crossed they dont drag their heels. 🤞

  • Jane315STARX
    Jane315STARX Posts: 996 Championing

    Its so odd the GP referred me to talking therapy.The talking therapist referred me to a psychiatrist.the psychiatrist referred me to a psychotherapist and now I'm back to square one.

  • Jane315STARX
    Jane315STARX Posts: 996 Championing

    Thank you

  • Jane315STARX
    Jane315STARX Posts: 996 Championing

    I still haven't spoken to anyone since February 11th.Was supposed to have a follow up call from psychiatrist 4 weeks later( this never happened).Now I've received an email to say he's cancelled the telephone call on 1st April and the next appointment for a call will be in May!.

  • Jane315STARX
    Jane315STARX Posts: 996 Championing

    Surely this can't be right? 13 weeks from the initial assessment on the telephone?

  • Albus_Scope
    Albus_Scope Posts: 11,423 Scope Online Community Coordinator

    Oh blimey that's quite the wait @Jane315STARX but that does unfortunately sound about right. Mental health services are under a huge amount of strain with a lack of staffing, so it can take a while to get those appointments. Hopefully you can get a slot from a cancellation soon though.

  • Jane315STARX
    Jane315STARX Posts: 996 Championing

    I agree but It was him who said he would speak with me in 4 weeks on February 11th then a letter went out recently to say that he couldn't make the time.Then another to say that the replacement for this appointment has now been put to May.So I've only spoken to him for 23 minutes Ever.All he did was prescribe Quietipine which I emailed to say no based on the fact that I've never actually taken it etc etc ( long story).The whole system is broken so with this and the political and benefits system the way it is I can see people ending their lives on mass and can totally see why it's happening. I'm not saying I am currently in that state of mind but there really is nobody to help.G.ps are always not as useful as they used to be because of the intense pressure they are all under

  • Rosie_Scope
    Rosie_Scope Posts: 7,260 Scope Online Community Coordinator

    Really sorry you're feeling the strain of the system @Jane315STARX, it's really not in a good place and so many people are struggling. Hope the appointment goes well when it finally comes around.

  • Jane315STARX
    Jane315STARX Posts: 996 Championing

    Thanks x.

  • Jane315STARX
    Jane315STARX Posts: 996 Championing

    So after waiting since February for another call from this psychiatrist.He called today and in brief said that my only options really were to take strong anti depressants or pay to see a private specialist psychotherapist ( as the waiting list on nhs is over a year)

  • Jane315STARX
    Jane315STARX Posts: 996 Championing

    Thanks BlueBell21.I think in my area this is the only team that operates within the nhs ( I've looked it up).He works within a trust and so the outcome would unfortunately most likely be the same.Its not him personally making the decision.Its the situation I think we are all in as it seems mental health services are so stretched.But I appreciate your kind words x

  • Jane315STARX
    Jane315STARX Posts: 996 Championing

    Today I've decided that I've got absolutely nothing to lose with the situation both myself and my son are in so I've sent a message to my GP practice telling them how incompetent I think this psychiatrist is.I was thinking it over.I think giving someone a diagnosis over the phone in 26 mins then telling them you will speak with them in 4 weeks ( but then dont) then cancelled appointment the following month.Meaning no contact for 3 months then followed by a 19 minutes telephone call saying are you up for a different medication is not a way to treat a patient.let alone someone who is trying to cope with what I am ( i.e a suicidal teenager).So on this basis I've let the GP practice know and see what they say

  • Jane315STARX
    Jane315STARX Posts: 996 Championing

    I have just had a message back with a face to face appointment in 2 weeks with a gp.So atleast that's something.I did have the option of next week but it would be a time when my son was at home and I can't leave him alone for obvious reasons and couldn't take him with me either and have nobody to leave him with so it's 2 weeks