Share review of Community Services - Northamptonshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust

Community Services - Northamptonshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust 2023-05-22 Person 5 5 0

I cannot tell you how much [name removed] and [name removed] have helped me through the past few months. When my husband was at the hospital it was [name removed] initially that could see i was actually struggling and alerted [name removed]. I didnt realise that i was struggling as i have always just got on with stuff - womaned up - but thank goodness they saw/heard it. Talking to [name removed] was like a breath of fresh air! The only way i could cope with the contact was via email/phone and [name removed] was happy to go with it. I really couldnt face seeing people, including family. She helped me through the dark days and was in regular contact with me. Her encouragement and shared experiences made me feel that i was not the faliure i thought i was - [ i felt i should have done more to get my husband help before it got to the stage it did.] Eventually, after a little over 3 months in hospital, he came home and [name removed] stayed in contact even then. Just making sure that all was ok and i was coping. Thank you.

From my point of view i really dont think anything could have been done better than it was by the Acute Liaison Mental Health Team. I couldnt cope with face to face stuff and i still got the help/encouragement i needed via emails. This worked for me big time. My only comments would be for his GP and the initial vist to NGH. I appreciate that everyone in the hospital is extremely busy and have so many patients to deal with on any given day. My husband was struggling and this was apparent but he was - without going into detail - in an environment which did not help his situation. We were there for more than 7 hours and at this point someone offered us a drink and something to eat. Once the Doctor [Im so sorry but i cant remember his name and he was so nice] and [name removed] and my husband had decided what would happen it still seemed to take an age to sort. With everyone banging on about mental health now could there not be a more quiet/private area? Its just a thought and probably impossible with the growing numbers the NHS have to cope with now but i thank them for their care and attention that day/night. As for his GP?? My Granny used to say "if you cant say anything nice, dont say anything at all" . So im taking her advice.