Complaint sent on 8th October 2019 from diary.
I've been attempting to replace a care coordinator since the beginning of 2019 when my last care coordinator retired. Had visits from South & East CMHT on two occasions in the last 9 months and a psychiatric consultant psychiatrist appointing confirming that a care coordinator would be chased at end of June 2019 after an office appointment. On the two home visits, no feedback was provided at all by psychiatric services at all and these appointments were before the office appointment at end June 2019.
Today the 8th October 2019 I was phoned by South & East CMHT and declined a care coordinator completely informally after the department was chased by Derriford Hospital psychiatric services after querying the CMHT service. This was chased because of an overdose that I took on the evening of Friday 4th October 2019.
The issue I have is that I've heard nothing whatsoever and no adequate formal explanation on why I'm being declined the service of a care coordinator when I am in fact under a section 117 under the mental health act for aftercare and a care coordinator is important to my mental health care.
The service that I have received from South & East CMHT is a disgrace for phoning often results in the phone not being answered or no callback being attempted by South & East CMHT within an allotted time of 2 hours or even usually a return call.
The issues I have and am complaining about is that the service falls short of one that should reply within an adequate time to the telephone helpline. And feedback on progress for a care coordinator has been completely lacking with no adequate reasons for the refusal of care coordinator provided by the office formally.
I request that full formal reasons are giving for the reason for refusal of care coordinator by a letter from the community mental health team to move the matter forward.
Complaint South & East CMHT Plymouth
Moderator: embleton
Re: Complaint South & East CMHT Plymouth
My reply to NHS complaints and CMHT after further consideration this is public.
It is amazing the reply I got from the NHS complaints department in Plymouth when raising a complaint about the CMHT. Some of the details are just untrue until the complaint was sent through to psychiatric services for a reply for a care coordinator, it was not raised or brought to my attention most of it.
The CMHT signposted me, to "citizen advice" for help with PIP application but state that it was "DIAC" in correspondence when all I wanted was some moral support whilst engaging with a PIP's application and through the process, and it would have been nice for them to attend the interview with me but that's okay for I have a personal assistant (PA) during the week. I have been put on standard care with psychiatric services CMHT some time ago but the reply to the complaint was the first I heard of it even though I'd be waiting for 6 months! The complaint took just over two weeks to reply to by correspondence by snail mail.
Admittedly, three visits were made to my own home by CMHT but that didn't result in identifying any of my care needs and with what care is available? Only asking what care needs, may I point out without knowing what's on offer how on earth can I ask for services that you do in fact supply? When bringing up any sort of stuff at the meeting their reply was signposting to "citizen advise', "GP", etc... is this even right? No moral or even supply of what services are available in the reply to my complaint or allocation of a care coordinator. I'm under a mental health section 117 for aftercare does that count for anything that section is really against CMHT, etc... to supply services? CMHT thought I needed their help with fulling in the PIP application; that was not required and I made that clear in a consultant psychiatric appointment.
Then the letter further goes on to state I've been "aggressive to staff", first I've heard of it in the reply was it just an excuse to cover their backs? And they have a "zero tolerance to aggression and any threating behaviour towards staff", this was only brought to attention after the complaint.
The facts are that it was three unproductive appointments with CMHT and I asked them to leave my house after 15 minutes, I do have the right to ask anyone to leave my house, a house is a man's castle and it is owned by me! They stated in correspondence that "I'd blocked their calls", when in fact they could get hold of me on my landline and had done so before even though I did block their calls on my mobile. They stated I put the phone down on them wouldn't anyone when it's nonproductive carrying on the conversation with somebody who isn't listening? In fact, they were rud to me during the telephone conversation with their shortness and unsupportive attitude.
Because I believe of the complaint I've been advised that I only have access to a consultant psychiatrist and the home treatment team who are excellent it is the front line staff on the phone and those visiting my home that I disagree with in their attitude towards me and the reason I made the complaint in the first place against CMHT!
Home treatment team excellent, BTW, when I activated my acute relapse plan (ARP) last evening, they are lovely, friendly and professional.
It is amazing the reply I got from the NHS complaints department in Plymouth when raising a complaint about the CMHT. Some of the details are just untrue until the complaint was sent through to psychiatric services for a reply for a care coordinator, it was not raised or brought to my attention most of it.
The CMHT signposted me, to "citizen advice" for help with PIP application but state that it was "DIAC" in correspondence when all I wanted was some moral support whilst engaging with a PIP's application and through the process, and it would have been nice for them to attend the interview with me but that's okay for I have a personal assistant (PA) during the week. I have been put on standard care with psychiatric services CMHT some time ago but the reply to the complaint was the first I heard of it even though I'd be waiting for 6 months! The complaint took just over two weeks to reply to by correspondence by snail mail.
Admittedly, three visits were made to my own home by CMHT but that didn't result in identifying any of my care needs and with what care is available? Only asking what care needs, may I point out without knowing what's on offer how on earth can I ask for services that you do in fact supply? When bringing up any sort of stuff at the meeting their reply was signposting to "citizen advise', "GP", etc... is this even right? No moral or even supply of what services are available in the reply to my complaint or allocation of a care coordinator. I'm under a mental health section 117 for aftercare does that count for anything that section is really against CMHT, etc... to supply services? CMHT thought I needed their help with fulling in the PIP application; that was not required and I made that clear in a consultant psychiatric appointment.
Then the letter further goes on to state I've been "aggressive to staff", first I've heard of it in the reply was it just an excuse to cover their backs? And they have a "zero tolerance to aggression and any threating behaviour towards staff", this was only brought to attention after the complaint.
The facts are that it was three unproductive appointments with CMHT and I asked them to leave my house after 15 minutes, I do have the right to ask anyone to leave my house, a house is a man's castle and it is owned by me! They stated in correspondence that "I'd blocked their calls", when in fact they could get hold of me on my landline and had done so before even though I did block their calls on my mobile. They stated I put the phone down on them wouldn't anyone when it's nonproductive carrying on the conversation with somebody who isn't listening? In fact, they were rud to me during the telephone conversation with their shortness and unsupportive attitude.
Because I believe of the complaint I've been advised that I only have access to a consultant psychiatrist and the home treatment team who are excellent it is the front line staff on the phone and those visiting my home that I disagree with in their attitude towards me and the reason I made the complaint in the first place against CMHT!
Home treatment team excellent, BTW, when I activated my acute relapse plan (ARP) last evening, they are lovely, friendly and professional.