NHS Barnsley Talking Therapies - Barnsley

Matthew S.

So I've been working with these guys for a short period of time and they are lovely, understanding and listen well. The process is incredibly slow however and I started this journey with them late 2023 and it's still going. Started with a group online which wasn't very helpful to me as I've done that before but it was mandatory and then it was a year before I got any 1 to 1. I appreciate that services like this are extremely stretched so I can't fault them for their lack of funding over the years but the wait times are really difficult as a patient needing help. My 1 to 1 was good, sadly my therapist is now on long term sick so I'm having to swap to someone new which has taken a few months to get an appointment for session 4, again it's extenuating circumstances but nothing happened fast which is stressful. I wish my therapist a speedy recovery and I would like to say thank you to the first response lady I spoke to, you were fantastic at listening.

Thomas B.

Every single member of staff I've had the misfortune of interacting with here has an overwhelming obsession with interrupting you at every given opportunity. Funnily enough I went out of my way to seek you guys for help, not to be asked question after question and then not being able to get a word in edgeways to respond.
Honestly the most abysmal mental health service I've every experienced. Every single person there should re-evaluate their career choices. Especially whoever the hell that receptionist was who deems it necessary to yell "Okay, okay okay" down the phone at you while you're actively explaining things.

You'd be getting zero stars if it was possible.

Megan J.

Awaited weeks for initial phone which understandably services are under a lot of pressure right now. Then initial triage assessment spent so much time focussing on little habits rather than depression as a whole. Then had to wait another week for case manager to agree, who came back about more habit questions again to then wait another week for response. At this point it been over a month for and still not spoken to anyone about how I am feeling and felt like always in such a rush focusing on the small things. I explained I had 1-1 consuelling in past with a private service through work and just wanted something similar to that. They explained I do not meet requirements for that and that they need to focus on habits first, I explained I was not too happy about this.. Referred me to CBT but before I could even speak to anyone how I was feeling I had to basically do weeks of e-learning on “silver cloud”. These are reviewed every 2 weeks, so it’s again delaying any form of help because you’re not even seeing a person. Completing 1 module and left a not for review that I wasn’t happy about it and that it is not way this therapy was explained, felt like it just was not for me. Was not called till two weeks later at next review who then said “we can only look at them on review date so that’s why your note was missed last review”. Explained I wasn’t happy and felt nothing had changed with myself I still have not been getting up each day.. Offered a face to face group which I had already explained I did not want people I don’t know (strangers) to know me. (Was not explained that it could be virtual until I placed a complaint to a receptionist after who was only lovely person I’ve spoken to after review). At review basically offered “discharge from service” or put on waiting list again for reassessment which still I won’t get to speak to anyone before then, felt the phone call was rushed when I was just trying to explain how I felt about it with a response of “well what do you want to do” . I have been after help since February. I am still no further forwards. Feels like they try and force 2 pathways silvercloud or group work when mental health isn’t a one size fits all.

Sarah S.

I have been with this team for over a year. The support has been horrendous. I had a psychiatric assessment with one guy, I was upset throughout the whole assessment. It drove me to attempt of suicide after the assessment. I should have received an assessment over a year ago but my mental health community nurse was useless and did not reffere me. It is has come to light she has lied on my mental health notes too and added information to my records 6 months later . Her lies ended me not getting support. No point in making a complaint its a waste of time, they lie to cover theirtracks. There were no care plans in place, inaccurate information and I was even discharged stating I agreed but that was not the case. I have now had to chase for an appointment as not seen anyone for two weeks, as my mental health is all over the place. I don't leave the house now unless I am with someone. This mental health system needs an overhaul. These past few weeks there has been deaths of suicide, and one death is too many and who does really care. Yes there are numbers you can call when you need to speak with somone. But when you're in the frame of mind which is a very dark place, how on earth do they expect you to just pick up the phone, when you should have regular support and duty of care to know when patient's mental health is on the decline.

UPDATE I have been informed that psychiatric assessment reports are not being done due to a backlog, I've been waiting for mine for three month and so has my GP I dont understand how it takes so long to type up a report. How can treatment be arranged when you don't have a report or care plan. I think its time for me to contact a solicitor for clinical negligence. I'm certainly not getting the right care!

James W.

The 5 star review is based on one of your employees JILL from primary care team. Spoke to her at length about the issues and struggles I'm faced with in my day to day life, she listened, was courteous and polite and it felt reassuring that I had someone to speak with who listened and who understood the struggles I feel I'm under. Better than my previous experience with the service when I was discharged in november 2021 due to lack of resources. I'm really hoping for intervention now and Jill made me feel reassured

Sharon B.

I've waited a week for a telephone appointment, been up all night anxious waiting for it. Got the call at the time agreed to be told she's too busy and asked to rearrange for 2+weeks time. Didn't ask I was feeling. I told her how much I needed to talk and she said she could mebbe squeeze me in for half hour. I feel 10times worse. 1st impression, absolutely rubbish!! Not surprised ppl take their lives, the help isn't always there
UPDATE. Got a call back shortly after I wrote this and it was the total opposite. They didn't make me feel rushed, feeling alot better

Lynsey W.

Decided to self-refer back in Dec 2020. After a week of self-referring, I had a initial phone call appointment with a lovely lady who recommended I start 1-to-1 counselling, which I was happy to do. It is now almost 10 months on and I have still to start ANY counselling.
How can an NHS service like this be allowed to offer services and support, when average people like myself are expected to wait SO long for the most basic of intervention? It makes no wonder suicide and self-harm are so prevalent these days when it is so difficult to access support.

Sharon N. S.

I was given this number of the iapt team. When I rang this number on Friday for my son who desperately needed help. The receptionist told me I needed to go back to my doctors & ask to be referred to spa ( mental health team) who is open on weekends. instead. We rang our gp back who said she would refer my son. Nobody has helped us over the weekend. Not gp’s, iapt or spa (mental health team). Though it’s been so difficult the weekend has come & gone & my son is in a better frame of mind than Friday. So when desperately needed who is there? I really feel for people who are in this situation as sometimes it’s a matter of life & death as it was for us Friday. No-one would help us. I wouldn’t recommend these places as you cannot turn to them for help, or self referrals as I was told. Talk to someone, who has time patience, who is will to care & listen. It wasn’t a nice experience for us, no wonder there are so many cases of mental health issues, but who is really there for them? They ought to be ashamed of themselves & shouldn’t be in the job if they are not willing to help! I had to give one star to leave a review, personally I wouldn’t have given one!