Psychiatric advice

Cashmenson

This is probably being written out of anger and heartbreak but here goes..

First of all this is NOT about money or feeling privileged over other people.

I attended my local community mental health day hospital ten years ago. I was pushed from one doctor to another. Never see the same doctor twice. Forced to be recorded for a trainee doctor which was stressful and humiliating. Told to snap out of it by another when i was in a very low place. Forced to read out a suicide letter in front of four professionals in a pokey room.
Eventually i stopped going because i felt worse coming out.

Couple years later i went through another trauma nd was referred back there. I said i would give it another try since it was all new doctors.
Back to the same thing again. Different doctors some hadnt even read my file beforehand nd i had to endure telling them yet again.
Finally i wrote a letter of complaint which is now in my file. I complained that i wasnt being treated properly. The entire team closed ranks nd shrugged it off saying "thats the public health system" for ya. I came off as the crazy one. I didnt stand a chance.
I have been begging to be diagnosed because i no im not getting the proper treatment. I was told im "undiagnosable" because i have a little bit of this and a little bit of that so its impossible.
Same thing every app. You get about three minutes, and they will ask you the same three questions. Hows ur sleep, mood, diet. You are out the door again and told to come back in 6 or 9 weeks, even if you are at deaths door.
Soon after at another app i was distraught and suicidal. They did nothing for me and sent me out as fast as i came in.

I get bi monthly calls from a clinical "nurse" who is absolutely full of ****e. He does nothing. He promises me oh il get you in to see the doctor this week and yet never ever delivers. He was to send me on coping skills never got them etc etc etc.

Yesterday morning i rang him and said i just had enough i couldnt put one foot in front of the other nd i felt like i needed to be admitted. He told me oh before u do decide come down tomorrow il talk to you first and then il get u in to see a doctor


Went down today and he said oh no sorry they are all full. I just went silent. I knew if i protested id get the same crap like i always do.

Because of their refusal to diagnose nd treat me i have ended up destroying my life. Its not from a want of trying. A psycatrist definition is to diagnose and treat someone who has a mental illness. But i get better satisfaction from my dogs!! Is this just not complete
And utter malpractice? Do i have grounds to sue this service? I know im not the only one treated this way, but if someone doesnt stand up to them things will never ever change. And people are suffering.

I cant afford to go private i really wish i could more than anything. Im not asking for too much by wanting to be helped am i? Instead of feeling like something on a conveyor belt..

I dont know what to do. But i need to do something. Im sick of what they get away with.

Mrs OBumble

Before sueing, I think you'd have to go through a complaints process with the hospital and medical council.

And the effort and money required to successfully sue is likely more than you can afford, especially if you cannot afford private treatment. Even if you win, winning still won't get you treated.

Your GP should be advocating for you to get properly diagnosed. If they cannot help with that, I wonder if there are any local advocacy groups they can refer you to, who can assist you to work the system?

If your GP is no help, then try searching for mental health advocacy groups yourself.

Claw Hammer

In order to sue any professional you will need to obtain a report showing your treatment was inadequate due to negligence and has caused you damage. The report will have to come from a suitably qualified expert who is in a position to say that you have suffered harm and that it was casued by negligent treatment.

Mr. Incognito

Probably not

http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/eli/1957/act/6/enacted/en/html