Psychiatry-UK

Written by a NHS patient

I was referred to Psychiatry UK by my Doctor. I found my treatment from the diagnosis, to the titration to be excellent. I was kept up to date with information about my treatment, and queries were dealt with very promptly. I'm 56, and so glad that I found this help and medication at this stage in my life. Better late than never, as they say. I'm so grateful for the help I received.

Recommend

Dignity/Respect

Involvement

Information

Cleanliness

Rating not given.

Staff

Safe

Written by a NHS patient

I began to suspect that I had ADHD in early 2021 through learning more about it via social media and the experiences of others. After a very thorough virtual appointment with the lovely Dr. Ghetau, this diagnosis was confirmed - a huge relief for me after a lifetime of struggling and uncertainty as to why. She was frank and personable, which made the assessment and subsequent communication extremely easy for me to handle as someone who often struggles with advocating for myself and speaking with others. She suggested that I also seek an autism assessment, which is something I'm currently in the process of - this extra information was extremely helpful for me in my ongoing journey of understanding my own neurodiversity. Once I had my ADHD diagnosis, I decided to proceed with medication, titrated by Psychiatry UK. While the process to have this approved by my local GP was slow, this was not unexpected given the peak pandemic timeframe. Psychiatry-UK, both Dr. Ghetau and the admin team, were very helpful and supportive and it felt like a team effort the whole time. Around 11 months after my initial diagnosis (8 of which were spent back-and-forthing with my stretched GP practice), I had began the medication titration process. This was titrated by Dean Tipton, who was thorough, clear, supportive and really friendly. I felt really comfortable discussing any side effects with Dean, as well as the positive journey of stabilising on medication. Dean's enthusiasm for my improvement was so wonderful and really gave me the confidence that I'm on the right track. After a few adjustments, including a switch to a slightly different brand of medication due to supply chain issues, we have found a dosage that works for me and I couldn't be more pleased. My experience with Psychiatry-UK, and particularly the incredible care and attentiveness that Dean displayed, has been second to none. I would recommend them to anybody - you will never feel pressured or like you're "in the wrong". It's worth taking that leap of faith because they'll help you fly.

Recommend

Dignity/Respect

Involvement

Information

Cleanliness

Rating not given.

Staff

Safe

Written by a NHS patient

I accessed treatment through Psychiatry UK via the NHS 'Right To Choose'. I'm so happy I discovered this and did so. There are long waiting times between major events (such as the initial appointment, starting titration, etc.), but it's worth it. Plus, I was very lucky that when a new, earlier appointment became available, I was contacted by the admin team to ask if I'd like to change to it. Despite the long waiting times, I felt heard throughout the process. The doctor who initially took the assessment session (and went on to become my linked doctor to my process) understood how worried I was about explaining everything and reassured me from the get-go. She recommended a titration plan (the process of figuring out the best medication and dosages for me) that suited the struggles I was facing. After a while, I started titration. My assigned pharmacist was great in picking up on any issues I mentioned in my monitoring forms and provided recommendations accordingly. He was solid in making adjustments that helped me feel more comfortable, and we've finally worked out the perfect way for me to manage taking my dosages. (All the while, he provided reminders that if lower dosages felt more comfortable, I could stick with those.) Admittedly, the weekly monitoring may be tough for people similar to me whose weakness is constant documenting. But it's worth trying to push through and keep it up, and so essential. I'm so, so glad I had my assessment with Psychiatry UK, and only wish I'd been able to access their services years sooner.

Recommend

Dignity/Respect

Involvement

Information

Cleanliness

Rating not given.

Staff

Safe

Written by a private patient

I believe a few ruptures and misunderstandings are unavoidable in most human interactions, but my expectation is that an attempt is made to repair or clarify anything that comes up, and the staff at Psychiatry UK did this very well. There were issues with billing and continuity of my care but my queries were satisfactorily resolved. I am grateful that this service is available because I felt heard, and I have finally received a diagnosis and treatment that has been life-changing and the NHS, unfortunately, did not hear or help me. Low self-esteem, stress eating and huge weight gain whenever I went back into education, obsessive relationships, and impulsive spending had taken their toll but now my dopamine is topped up and I don't need to be as reactive. Thank you Nurse Wioleta and both the Psychiatrists who bookended by time with Psychiatry UK.

Recommend

Dignity/Respect

Involvement

Information

Cleanliness

Rating not given.

Staff

Safe

Written by a NHS patient

Overall I am very pleased with the care received through psychiatry Uk. The team are understanding of ADHD and the limitations this means for service users. My nurse prescriber answered all my questions clearly and concisely and gave me a clear run down on the administrative tasks I need to complete. Thankyou.

Recommend

Dignity/Respect

Involvement

Information

Cleanliness

Rating not given.

Staff

Safe

Written by a NHS patient

This was an ADHD diagnosis through the right to choose NHS route which I started mid the first year of the pandemic. Initially great - quick and thorough diagnosis, and while it felt like the single video consultation wasn't long enough, the paperwork I had to fill in before-hand that the doctor had read was extremely thorough. Titration for medication did take a while. I felt like I was looking for a needle in a haystack in the dark, in respect of deciding which medication was right for me, as I had very little information and felt like the dose increases/adjustments were on me. Like I was negotiating a maze blindfolded when everyone else had a map and could see! I didn't receive much guidance on this, though the titration nurse was lovely there were things she had no clue about such as medication interactions and side effects and duration of side effects. It would have been helpful to know that for example the extreme dry mouth would eventually resolve but that it could take a couple of months after each dose adjustment. It would have been nice to see a list of 'real world' symptoms such as dry skin (with suggested solutions too!)... For me it has been really hard to be objective and know when you've hit the right dose as I don't have a standard job and being a single parent don't have an objective outside observer... However, with a lot of advice and support from a community group not linked to PSUK, I have been able to find the information I needed to try to make educated decisions on my treatment. For my (very brief!) review the Doctor appeared to be falling asleep when I was talking, closing his eyes, which wasn't ideal from my point of view! (I hope he was still listening?!) Am I really that boring to listen to on a short 30min call? He asked about side effects I've experienced but didn't give any advice on them or reassurance, no indication of what was normal or anything - again I feel left in the dark and don't know what's right and what isn't and not knowing what information he was after... It would have been helpful for me to know what questions I was going to be asked in the review as being put on the spot my mind goes blank - "no, no side effects" and then I come off the call and remember all 10 of them... Nevermind... Overall though this has been a positive experience. I'm now where I should have been over 10 years ago when I initially approached the NHS about an adhd diagnosis only to be fobbed off with tales of the 7-10 year waiting list... (and an NHS referral that it turns out was never put through!). From initial referral by the GP to diagnosis was around 4-5 months which felt like agony but compared with the NHS wait time was blissfully short! It's been an enlightening experience, and while I didn't receive much support from PSUK, simply having the diagnosis has enabled me to research further and start the journey of understanding myself better. It would definitely be helpful to have a leaflet or similar with "So you've had a diagnosis of adhd as an adult... Now what?" - with expectations, advice on the grief process, looking forward and suggestions of how to approach things with relatives, work, colleagues, etc... I do feel that it should be made clearer what support is (or isn't) available, and that medication is not a magic wand... There is little information about what symptoms the medication helps - and what symptoms it doesn't. Overall I definitely recommend this service with the caveat that you should also educate yourself about your potential condition alongside this!!

Recommend

Dignity/Respect

Involvement

Information

Cleanliness

Rating not given.

Staff

Safe

Written by a NHS patient

The whole process was incredibly smooth and made me feel understood, comfortable, and listened to - something that I have not experienced frequently in regards to mental health and ADHD. I was referred through the Right to Choose service, and the wait was much quicker than if I was seen through the NHS. As a young woman, I am used to not being taken seriously by health professionals (after many bad experiences with GPs), however the doctor who diagnosed me (Dr Sajjad Saqid) was kind, understanding, and treated me as an adult and a human. My needs were met by the doctor and the prescriber (Terry Robertson), both of whom were fantastic. I was able to settle on a medication and a dosage that works for me. If I ever had a problem or concern, I always received a swift reply. Due to stimulant medication having a potential affect on your heart and blood pressure, you are asked to complete forms weekly so as to monitor your heart health (and symptom management). For this, I was sent a blood pressure monitor in the post, making the BP monitoring much easier and giving me peace of mind. Overall, my experience was extremely positive and I am extremely grateful for the professional, genuine, and empathetic treatment I received through Psychiatry UK.

Recommend

Dignity/Respect

Involvement

Information

Cleanliness

Staff

Safe

Written by a NHS patient

After all the horror stories I had heard about ADHD diagnosis and treatment plans I have to say everyone involved at Psychiatry-UK have blown my preconceptions out of the water. It has been a remarkable, informative and supportive service from beginning to end, even when I had minor melt downs and panics about things. The balance of meds have changed my life for sure and I'm left with a sense of freedom in that I don't have to be 'medicated' daily, i can choose when and if it is appropriate for me. I would highly recommend this service and the experts that handle your case.

Recommend

Dignity/Respect

Involvement

Information

Cleanliness

Staff

Safe

Written by a NHS patient

I highly recommend Psychiatry-UK. They are highly efficient and friendly. I guess this is why they have a long NHS waiting list. My experience with them was so positive. Special thanks go to Sarah Purchase who looked after with my medication and followed up on my health, and also to Dr. Mehboob Yaqub, the consultant who saw me.

Recommend

Dignity/Respect

Involvement

Information

Cleanliness

Staff

Safe

Written by a NHS patient

Very friendly and professional communications. Highly recommended.

Recommend

Dignity/Respect

Involvement

Information

Cleanliness

Staff

Safe