Herefordshire and Worcestershire Health and Care NHS Trust - Worcester

Greg P.

Never had mental health issues in my life. At once everything collapsed and I had no one even to talk . Long short story ... I was in very bad place alone depressed with massive panic attacks asking for help. Gp didn't want to listen , just gave me antidepressants which I didn't take. I called talking therapies and they said I can do some research online and that's it. I am shocked how this institution is treating people and I'm so frustrated that they are taking tax payers monay! They offer 0 help. I did all by my own and private way. I'm so happy that I managed all by myself . Even when asked for help they refused to help !

Ombersley 6.

I was referred to Worcestershire Mental Health Services after a significant life event and ill health. This was an extremely shocking and distressing time in my life and I was struggling with anxiety and depression. As I had become unwell, it also became apparent to me that I needed to speak about some unresolved childhood trauma; I therefore asked to be referred to a trained counsellor.

The first noteworthy occurrence was that I met with a male psychiatric nurse at my GP practice to discuss my referral; and after discussing my needs at length (and agreeing a course of action) he wrote to me stating that I could not be referred for counselling (due to me having significant physical health needs!) and instead, I should attend a ‘support group’. When I challenged this (due to my mental health diagnoses), he asked me to write an email to him detailing my needs; effectively I was completing my own comprehensive referral (which was his role in this instance) when I was already feeling very overwhelmed and in desperate need of some help. This person demonstrated no empathy or concern for my welfare.

The second instance of poor service, was when I eventually was allocated to a practitioner. This individual was ‘trained in CBT’ (which was not appropriate to my needs at this time) and was unable to do any meaningful work outside the worksheets she issued to me on a weekly basis to complete. These sessions added greatly to my stress and only made me feel more upset, hopeless and not listened to. The worker frequently spoke over me when I attempted to answer her questions and spoke with sarcasm and distain.

Very fortunately, I had enough remaining strength to ask again to be referred to a qualified counsellor; and I’m so very grateful I did. I was then allocated to a fantastic, experienced and fully trained psychotherapist who really helped me keep my head above water whilst I continued to experience a period of trauma in my life. She provided knowledge, empathy, guidance and support that gave me hope for the future and skills I continue to use every day. Sadly, this person has now moved into private practice; I can see that she was outside the ‘norm’ of the low quality services I mostly received and I just feel very grateful that, when I needed help, there was this one skilled person who was willing to really help me. I cannot state strongly enough that this professional prevented me from giving up. She made me feel that my life still had value.

I have taken the time to write this review for two reasons:

1. To encourage others to persevere in asking to be seen by a QUALIFIED, EXPERIENCED and EMPATHETIC health professional when you need this. You would not ask your neighbour with a 6 week online course in mechanics to fix your car! A registered psychotherapist is a counsellor with over 4 years training and verified supervised practice.

2. I hope that professionals might read this; people who are maybe burned out, disillusioned, under-qualified or unsuited to working in mental health and consider their actions and answer this question: does your work cause more harm than good?

Simon T.

November 2023, I had a severe mental health crisis and was placed under the Home Treatment Team who discharged their service to me after one month with the understanding that I would be picked up by the Neighbourhood Team quickly. It took till April 2024 with the service rearranging the original appointment to two weeka ato be seen. I have since had only 3 sessions before my support worker went off with no notice and communication of what the situation was. I have not been allocated another support worker and no communication. I have made the decision to discharge myself as I was beginning to make some progress however being ditched/ghosted isn't good enough. I rang to discharge myself and suprise suprise I couldn't speak to a person: I had to leave a voicemail.
Massively disappointed.

Tia B.

I cannot believe this is the extent of mental health services that is on offer for young people from the NHS. Shocked and appalled at the lack of knowledge, training and general response from my therapist. When I spoke with negative emotions in my voice I was told ‘not to take that tone of voice’ with her. Absolutely nothing was said that was even directed towards her, let alone that could be interpreted as offensive but me speaking of negative emotions seemed to trigger her?

Did not feel like a safe space to talk about my feelings at any point, had to communicate the same point multiple times as I was not being listened to and therapist would go long periods of time without any communication or response at all; just completely dead air even after I had spoken. Makes me think I should become a therapist myself if all you have to do is sit there on the end of the phone and not talk even when you have been spoken to.

Absolutely astonishingly awful, would not recommend to anyone at all. Would actually advise people to steer clear of this service.

Ringo

I had experience with Healthy Minds for generalised anxiety disorder and intrusive thinking a year ago. Whilst my therapist was a lovely and helpful lady, who was always willing to listen and give me helpful advice, the activities that were sent to me seemed to be too “general” (if anyone catches my drift). I found that the sort of CBT that is provided is an “all rounder” service, and whilst my therapist and I did work on bettering some of my negative thought processes, I felt that the therapy offered didn’t truly help. I was on a 12 month waiting list, and had about 4 months worth of online therapy, once a week. Whilst at the time of having these weekly sessions, I felt there was a degree of improvement, I feel now that the impact has been rather insignificant. I think it’s brilliant that these services are offered free of charge but I do feel (as do many others) that the CBT that is offered should be more specific and less of a tick box exercise.

RattleheadUK

Through no fault of our own, we've had to deal with a number of NHS depts. in recent years. Generally, they've been good - great. These people are the exception. The media is awash with 'mental health matters' and 'speak up, ask for help' slogans. And that's all they are, empty slogans. I asked my GP for help over four years ago. Last week, I interrupted a family day out to have my third lengthy telephone assessment and was told someone would call me today with the outcome.Unlike the last two occasions, they did contact me with an outcome. Which is I need counselling. So they've put me on a 12 month plus wait list. Absolutely pointless. The bottom line is once they've established that you're not a danger to yourself or your children, they literally could not give a monkeys about you. So I can continue to be unable to sleep and in the downward spiral in which I've been travelling for five years. And they can tick a box and appear to have done something. Thanks for less than nothing.

Sharon R.

My sister has had a history of mental health issues all her life.Last year she became so ill the mental health team put her under so call safeguarding which stands for taking action before any harm is done.She was sleeping in gardens,not taking her meds,microwaving sponges causing small fires and obviously her mental health state state became so bad that she took an overdose and was rushed to hospital,instead of being sectioned she was sent home.I then recieved a phone call saying that my sister was pulled from the river seven wearing a thick onesie and was sent straight to the crisis team.I assumed she was In hospital so I went to check on her house.The idiots sent her home wearing a flimsy hospital gown and I found her sat on her cold doorstep with her mind in a dangerous place.It took the power of my local councillor to finally get her sectioned two days after the suicide bid.i complained to the ombudsman about her treatment and they twisted everything around to make it sound like the complaint was about me and protected the trust.my sister was Let down badly by the professionals that should of been protecting her.

Puffle T. C.

Had them call me today for "help" after being in a very potentially harmful state of mind. Anyway, the woman that called (Caroline) found it "distracting" that my phone signal wasn't brilliant, and just sounded bored and annoyed the whole time, actually getting quite rude when I asked her to repeat one of the questions. Just hung up in the end. I'm luckily on the waiting list for being prescribed talking therapies, however it is really worrying that someone that HASN'T had a change of meds and could be in deep crisis, can actually have someone like this call them. The woman should not be working in mental health at all. Avoid at all costs if you can, although mental health care in Worcs is scarce and quite shamefully lacking, go through your GP if you possibly can.