Norfolk and Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust (NSFT)

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• CPN case load is too large

  3

  Submitted by Anonymous 27th March 2019

  I help organise a Church-run mental health support group in Dereham, and many of our attendees have got a community psychiatric nurse assigned to them. I think the work of a CPN is very important, but we've noticed a real drop off in their contact with clients in the last few years. It used to be that the CPN would drop the client off at the group, and once they were established in the group come to check up once a month or so. But now none of that happens, and some of our group members say they don't hear much from their CPN, which means they aren't been referred to see a psychiatrist or other mental health specialist when they really need to. There are so many people suffering with mental health problems and they need doors opening for them which they can't do without the help of a CPN.

  
  
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• Terrible service

  1

  Submitted by Anonymous 27th March 2019

  I am often suicidal. I get NO help. They leave me to suffer despite many assessments. My "needs are too complex".

• Reply from Norfolk and Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust (NSFT)

  I am sorry to learn that you have had difficulty accessing support from mental health services. If you would like to discuss your concerns further with us, we can try to help and see if we can access appropriate support to fit your needs. Please contact us in the Patients Advice & Liaison Service (PALS). PALS provides information, advice as well as assistance when raising concerns in attempt to resolve them. We are contactable on the following; Tel: 0800 279 7257 (Freephone), Email: pals@nsft.nhs.uk . Messages can be left and we would attempt to respond to you as soon as possible.

• Don't like being labelled at group sessions

  2

  Submitted by Anonymous 21st March 2019

  On both occasions I've sought help for my mental health the first thing I was advised to do was attend social or wellbeing groups. I felt like they didn't give any consideration to what I wanted and just palmed me off without thinking about alternatives. You're given this homogeneous label of having a 'moderate mental health problem', but sometimes all you want is face-to-face counselling. Not everyone will thrive in group settings.

  
  
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• Should work in partnership with Men's Shed

  3

  Submitted by Anonymous 21st March 2019

  I had some therapy through NSFT years ago, which I found ok but didn't really solve things long term. I continued to struggle with depression until about two years ago when I joined the Men's Shed in King's Lynn. Being there, working on projects with other blokes and generally talking rubbish has been better than any therapy I've ever had. I go every Tuesday and Thursday - they're my favourite days of the week! I think NSFT should look at working in partnership with Men's Shed, or even referring to them when it's appropriate.

  
  
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• Coffee social groups have helped infinitely

  5

  Submitted by Anonymous 21st March 2019

  I was really, really low at one stage in my life, to the point where I didn't even want to go outside. My husband heard about these 'Coffee & Catch Up' groups that were being run by NSFT, which he dragged me down to reluctantly. First time I went I was so anxious that I was shaking. But after a few times I quickly settled in and since then they have helped infinitely. Being in a friendly, non-judgemental environment helps a lot, and having people around you who have experienced the similar things is amazing. I now volunteer the with the group and help coordinate meet ups, I couldn't do without it.

  
  
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• Appointments to formal and prescriptive

  2

  Submitted by Anonymous 1st March 2019

  If you're trying to get a young person to open up, it needs to be in a more casual environment. My daughter's first assessment was very formal, to the point were it was quite intrusive. Professionals shouldn't push the young person, they need to consult the service user more to reassure them that they are the ones in control of their own care. It's important to make it very clear that the service is there to help, and that they only need to do what they feel they can do - rather than being so prescriptive. Sitting in front of a young person on the first assessment and asking very personal questions, whilst ticking boxes on a clipboard can be quite intimidating.

  
  
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• Counselling isn't long enough

  2

  Submitted by Anonymous 1st March 2019

  It took my daughter a long time to open up during her counselling sessions, and because she only had a six week programme of sessions, she felt that counsellor was rushing her to try and get results. I know there's a desperate need for these services, but counselling sessions need to be longer to give people a chance to build up a rapport with the person rather than throwing you to one side once your 6 weeks is up.

  
  
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• Good, varied support

  4

  Submitted by Anonymous 28th February 2019

  Some of the services offered to me through 80 St Stephen's have been really good. Since I've been with them I've been able to do yoga and have taken part in the 'All to Play For' football sessions, which I found really beneficial. I was even taught really simple things like breathing exercises that helped massively. Through the early intervention programme I received occupational therapy once a week, and got on with the mental health worker I was assigned as well. Having that regular contact helped to build rapport and felt really personable.

  
  
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• Mixed experience with different services

  3

  Submitted by Anonymous 28th February 2019

  Over the last few years I've been so unwell that it's pushed me to breaking point. Throughout that time I've had a mixed experience with different services under NSFT. After I was diagnosed with a serious problem I started having visits from the CRHT team. My experience with them wasn't so good, because it was a different person every time, so I was explaining myself over and over again, it made me feel quite uneasy. Then when I moved out of Norwich it took them much longer to come and see me, and the appointments were getting further and further apart. This had a real effect on me, to the point where I attempted suicide. After that I got sectioned, which actually - although I was so scared of the prospect of it - was the best thing that ever happened to me. It just gave me a break from the real world, it gave me a chance to get back on my feet.

  
  
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• Out of touch

  2

  Submitted by Anonymous 28th February 2019

  I found the staff I met to be out of touch with my needs, and too focused on giving me a certain kind of treatment. This caused me a lot of stress. What I really wanted was somebody to chat to every week about what was on my mind, not necessarily to offer 'interventions'. That's always what I really wanted, but no one ever listened.

  
  
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