Oldham Mental Health Access Team Oldham OL1 2JH

"Absolutely a joke! I was referred by my GP due to a drastic decline in my mental health only to be rejected without even being assessed to actually determine the level of treatment I need. I would need a full mental health evaluation to determine this , but the consultant thinks going off basic notes , that are anywhere up to 7 years old, if not more, is adequate enough information to make a decision on my care needs and that "Talking therapy" and changing medication is the best treatment for me. Well I guess the consultant didn't read my notes properly because if he/she did they would have seen I've already been through "Talking therapy" and it drove me to the point of attempting to end my life. So NO I don't think "Talking therapy" is the best treatment and it isn't as easy as just changing medication, I'd have to be weaned off the ones I'm on now just to then start on the new ones , this would be extremely detrimental to my mental health. So I contacted the access team to discuss this matter with them and the amount of disdain, lack of compassion and sympathy I felt from the way the person on the phone came across was unbelievable. To be honest it actually felt like she was mocking me with her repetitive question of, "Well what do you want me to do?". In the end I had to put the phone down as I was becoming more and more distressed with the conversation and situation. All I can say is, " The Oldham access team has failed to provide me with needed care as recommended by a health care practitioner (GP) for my mental health conditions and failed to prescribe timely and appropriate mental health care, by not performing a full mental health evaluation, for a serious mental health problem that a reasonable person would have recognised as requiring professional mental health attention, which I would deem as medically negligent." I will be referring my concerns of medical negligence to PALS, so they can investigate further."

"People who ask for help under mental health act should not be left to sit with others on the urgent medical care who have broken bones, cuts etc It takes GUTS to admit you have mental health prob. You SHOULD NOT BE KEPT WAITING for over 4hrs in a general waiting room of the URGENT TREATMENT SERVICES that it gets too the point its too much for a person to take, that their anxiety depression ect hits an all time high that you need to leave. Without and M/H intervention"

"Tried ringing up to speak and find out how to get some help and the receptionist didnt even finish letting me explain before straight up saying you need the 24 hour help line whilst i was still trying to explain no help whatsoever told me i need a referral from my doctor is Saturday i need help now not next week when ive got a doctors appointment"

"To be honest, I have had a very bad experience with this service. probably one of the worst-rated mental health trusts in the UK.they need to show more empathy, humanity, tolerance, and understanding to .They do not help the patient and even make the condition worse. I have been going there for 3 weeks now, but it was all useless. Don't think they have a professional between them. I think the approach of the home treatment team needs to change. I feel that my needs and concerns have not been properly addressed among the staff. During each visit, the same things were said over and over again to different members of the staff who visited them. I did not have a lack of capacity and I knew what was good for me, but my wishes were not heeded I felt worse off having been visited by them than I was before. Some people respond well I have lost all faith in mental health services. There's not enough funding, the staff is overworked. I feel as if I can no longer seek help in a crisis as I will be treated like an individual who's a bit stressed/sad from daily life and not taken seriously. There is no continuity of care. I know there isn't a magic wand but I felt belittled, almost spoken to as if I was a child who didn't know any better However, must state that staff in A&E have always been brilliant. I can't thank them enough for always being supportive and seeming to choose the correct approach every time. It's just a shame that the NHS mental health services aren't funded adequately so that the correct care can be given I hope this will be forwarded to the relevant people."

"After being told over the phone if I attended a&e they wouldn't be able to help much by a lady on the phone (access team) I was seen by two nurses at a&e whom showed empathy (I was given a sleeping tablet and out within 4 hour)) with a follow up appointment the next day I received intensive care and mediations every two days for aorund 3 weeks before being discharged back to my GP. During the 3 weeks I only ever saw nurses whom spoke to doctors at a panel but they was caring and looked after me. Take the reviews with a pinch of salt, MH is complex every case is different"