Service users opinions on how they have been affected

by changes to services

Suzanne NashViewpoint

Have services changed?Pie chart showing service users opinions on recent

service changes

45%

11%

24%

20%

Changed for the worse:45%

Changed for the better:11%

No change: 24%

Don't know, didn't say,minor changes, etc.20%

In what ways have services changed for the worse?

CMHTs and CSTs have become more and more under-staffed: e.g. The Bridge,

Jubilee Rd, Handside Hall, Holly Lodge The Bridge, CMHT,

Welwyn Garden City

How else have services changed for the worse? Coffee mornings/meeting places cut

e.g. The Bridge, Jubilee Rd, Foresters Hall Gaps in support or loss of it altogether Changes in, or loss of, psychiatrists Loss of staff, i.e. not being replaced Loss of day hospitals

e.g. Fairfield, Oxford House

How else have services changed for the worse? Relocation of

services e.g. Harlow and

Chase Farm to QE2, St Michael’s House from Letchworth to Hitchin

Loss of drop-ins e.g. Mind in South-

West HertsSt Michael’s

House, Letchworth

How else have services changed for the worse? Lower frequency of out-patient

appointments e.g. Welwyn Garden City &

Borehamwood Loss of professional reps. at groups Loss of art therapy Closure of Wilbury Ward, Lister CPAs not being held properly

What do service users feel about these changes?

“Losing the relationships I had with them (support staff who were left and not replaced) has been very distressing”

“Had a gap without anything for a month or so, now only have short-term CBT. When that ends I’ll be on my own.”

“I had a period of psychosis triggered by the loss of art therapy and class friends”

“Lots of the groups have been stopping or reducing...makes me feel more isolated.”

“Fairfield day hospital closed. Now what am I going to do?”

Have there been positive changes? Very good

support from GPs e.g. in North Herts

and Tring Good support

from CMHTs e.g. Edinburgh

House and The Bridge

Have there been any other positive changes? Support from local Mind groups

e.g. Mind in Dacorum Very good support from CAT teams Re-opening of early intervention in

psychosis Service user and carer

involvement has increased

What have service users said about positive

changes? “Having CAT team in Watford is a

definite improvement to the services” “Support (of early intervention in

psychosis) is excellent and frequent” “Edinburgh House seems to run more

efficiently these days” “My previous experience of the system

prior to the CAT team was it was less organised, still good but less responsive..”

What alternative sources of support have people sought? 16% - Support groups

e.g. Mind in Dacorum, Lighthouse Club Waltham Abbey, Guideposts Watford.

4% - still looking/have not found

4% - Yoga, meditation, Tai Chi

4% - Physical exercise Henry Smith House, Watford

What other alternative sources of support have people found? 3% - Samaritans 3% - GP 4% - Self help

groups 6% - Counselling 3% - Viewpoint 3%

Complementary medicine

What additional alternative support would

people like? CBT Counselling Financial help and advice Training facility to help people

back into employment More day centre services in

Bishops Stortford

What have service users said about alternative

support? “Used Living Room, Stevenage…and that

helped wonders. I’m now sober.” “I really don’t know where to look” “I feel I have no need to look elsewhere, as the

services I receive couldn’t be better.” “Mind in Hemel…very good, better than

mental health services” “I have tried (to look for alternative support)

and no-one gives a damn” “I am looking into going on a Learn Direct

computer course. I don’t know what I will do really, when that finishes”

How easy is it to obtain help in a crisis?

Pie chart showing service users opinions on how easy it is to obtain help in a crisis

41%

36%

23%

Didn't say

Difficult

Easy

What do people think of the crisis help received?

Pie chart showing service users opinions of the crisis services they have received

49%

25%

20%

3%

3% Good support 49%

Didn't say 25%

Bad support 20%

Adequate support 3%

Support neither goodnor bad 3%

What types of help have people used when in crisis? 21% - CAT teams 12% - CPN 9% - CMHT 15% - GP 9% - Psychiatrist 6% - A&E Other: Counsellor, NHS Direct, Samaritans,

Emergency access centre, out-of-hours, CST, support worker, CAB, family & friends.

What have service users said about crisis help

received? “Not easy…when I do get help – which is like gold-

dust – it is very good” “You cannot get any help at all, whether you are a

service user or a carer” “…excellent…My consultant spent one hour seeing

me…follow-up excellent as well” “The CMHT and CAB were useless…CST at Silver

Birch have been wonderful” “…find it extremely difficult to cope, help received

is only just adequate” “Easy to get help, though kept waiting ages at

A&E”

What are peoples’ recent experiences of in-patient

care?Pie chart showing service users opinions of their

recent experience of in-patient care

55%35%

10%

Negative

Positive

Mixed

What were the reasons for the negative experiences? 36% - dissatisfaction with staff (e.g. at

St Julians and Albany Lodge) 9% - too regimented (e.g. at Abbey PICU

and Lister Mental Health Unit) 9% - a need for more activities Other comments: not enough

prevention of absconding, lack of follow-up after discharge, difficulty in obtaining personal items on the ward, dirty environment, vegetarian food difficult to obtain.

What were the reasons for the positive experiences?

Approachable staff

Excellent support Very good care at

Shrodells Food very good Clean and modern

environment

What have service users said about their in-patient

care? “St Julians was a terrible place with lazy, bored staff

who just wanted to ignore patients and mostly did!” “Very good…excellent support from nurses…no

complaints at all” “Awful – never want to be in that situation again!” “…it was a place of rest and a much needed break” “Look back fondly on hospital in places because of

some of the people I met” “Horrendous – I would never set foot in one again!” “First class. The food was superb”

The End

Suzanne Nash, Viewpointwww.hertsviewpoint.co.uk

01707 328014