Awful, cannot speak to the psychiatrist at Yewcroft, get no action from calls to the unit. They have run out of ideas and are now providing no help or support at all. Emergency helpline does nothing. BSMHFT are a failed organisation which needs a very major revamp. The whole organisation is mired in uncaring apathy. They care nothing for their patients.
I have had three nurses since been referred to Yewcroft and they have turned my life around yes I still have my bipolar but now I’m not going from one crisis to the other. The first CPN she inspired me to get a dog which transformed my life it was sad when she left. The next who I got on with she went on to bigger and better things, now I have my third, she is a lovely nurse and very caring. As for the doctors well I’ve had few but they have all been top class though one in particular I believe changed my life for the better when changed my meds a big thank you
I would rather have been sent to a concentration camp then deal with these sub human robots. I swear some of them delight in the agony they cause. Dealing with them makes me want to drink bleach and jump off a bridge these pieces of scum need to actually die
Hadn't been seen in a while and had suicidal thoughts coming back, turned up and was seen by a locum, who treated me like dirt on her shoe and tricked me into being chucked off the service by telling me that my next (previously arranged) appointment had been cancelled. I then got a letter saying I had not attended and I got thrown out of the service. Tried to kill myself because of her treatment of me and very nearly succeeded. Was physically forced to have liver damage treatment at hospital. Mental Health Nurse contacted them 19 months ago to report and to make sure I got seen. Heard nothing
I was signed off sick from work and my GP was unable to prescribe for me as he wanted a specialist review.
6 months later, I finally got an assessment and diagnosis.
Agreed to start my medication in Sept following some tests. It took weeks of calls and I finally started in October.
First prescription was wrong. Called had it changed. Had my Bloods at the Barberry and the Phlebotomist accidentally took the whole cap tube, so had to take it again.
2nd prescription and review of Bloods never done, I had to call and tell them I had run out. Then was asked to come to the centre to collect it at 4pm.
3rd prescription told to up my dose and come for Bloods, waited 30m in boots only to be told the script is wrong again.
I am constantly having to chase and feel like such a pain. But if I did not, I would be left without medication and without monitoring.
Only worsens the patient’s mental health trying to get in touch with them for the simplest of needs
Under the CMHT. Absolutely terrible treatment. Called in a crisis multiple times and phone calls are never returned. No support offered when I ask for it. When I flagged this and that it was worsening my mood, I was told "oh well, please do try and call if you get that low again.
I have called them on number of occasions pleading for help for my partner they on the few times they come out they didn't do anything or turned up un prepared and giving medication not knowing the side effects or if they interact with the meds his on the medication didn't come with leaflets in a plain box with the tablets cut with not saying what they were saying they couldn't do much when he was having his outbursts at home the one time he was walking over 10 hours bare foot picked up by the police and they let him go within 2 hours and discharged him to leave there on his own not knowing if he could even get home
Yet another call to them no call back until I called again yesterday !
The person on the end of the phone did not listen to what I was saying kept saying about an appointment in 2 weeks ! How are these people in the MH profession ? They don’t listen to your concerns or facts !
Believe you me if anything happens to my son I’m holding this sham of a team RESPONSIBLE !
Trying to get across how a serious situation is yesterday & today about one of their patients is unbelievable you get through to a receptionist who says I’ll get someone to call you back 5 hours later no call so I call them back then I’m told someone called me at 12.30 which they didn’t I’ve all my calls logged ! These people who claim to be mental health doctors/nurses at this place need seriously looking into ! I will hold them responsible if anything happens because they are not listening to me as a parent how serious the situation is ! One star because I had too !
Dealing with them is hard work trying to explain about my adult son never sees a doctor there face to face ? always over the phone they never call you back when you leave messages with reception !
Sent an appointment to my address last week knowing full well he’s told them he’s not with me since covid & in his own home ?? My son is one of many suffering MH out there there is NO HELP!
Until something happens then they’ll listen I’ve logged all my calls and this has been going on since covid !! All they do is fob you off seriously their care or I should say lack of care needs investigating !!
angela the slag rude as fuck dirty bitch and by the end off the week i would killed my self
Bad communication, psychiatrist and GP they don’t keep in touch with what’s happening. They said to reduce medicines and did not happen for 6 months. Appreciate they are busy.
I was referred to duty metal health nurse Sean; who at 1st seemed great.
App attended on 19th July, no letter/communication with either myself or the gp. Promised I'd be seen as my meds haventvbeen reviewd in 2.5 yrs & promised help with my housing situation - so far NOTHING!!
Been trying to speak to Sean since 25th August, all I get told is they've emailed him.
Gp told me I'd got an app 3rd Oct, this was cancelled as I was seen urgently in July, asked to see a mental health doctor & told I couldn't as there's only 1 for the whole of Birmingham.
As disgusting & Tey wonder why people are committing suicide.
Had an appointment scheduled here for months, but they sent a letter to cancel it at short notice, and no new appointment was made. They just said they'd be in touch. No information about help or support in the meantime was given, I'm just left waiting to see if they remember to see me again. Service seems chaotic and understaffed. They should be more helpful and let people know about support options.
No MDT approach, Been waiting for 4 months now for CPN & still unsure when I will be allocated due to them not having enough nurses.
Been waiting for depot medication for one month after having all tests completed, Psychiatrist is off sick & I quote “They have no doctor”. Low staff levels have affected my treatment and left me cycling through moods as I have no medication, I also have had no care plan provided or crisis plan which is completely unacceptable.
Raised complaint but was advised that the process is currently taking up to 6 months from the date received and Investigating officer is appointed.
The worse experience of my life. Dont listen to a thing you say just shove you on medication and leave you to it. Seems like they only have one physcaritrist as she's been off sick all month and cant see anyone else. Go on and on about how they're in charge of your care and always here to help but when you do call you can only get through to the receptionist who is less the helpful.
Or they tell you to call the crisis line. I attempted suicide luckily my partner found me
Was on hold for 3 hours to then be told a doctor would call meback as I was at risk.
Never heard from them again. I feel for the people who have no freinds or family to support them through this as if they were in charge of my care alone I would be dead.
I joined the team as I was told I can no longer ignore my mental health . I was better off before this has been hell.
Every time I try to get in touch with the team they either fail to get back to me or no one seems to have any answers to my questions. Rude, psychologically abusive and unprofessional staff.
YOUR SECURITY GUARDS REFERRED TO ME AS THE O0NE THAT LIKE TOO @~@* DOGS ER THATS DISGUSTING ASLANDEROUS
Since last year things are getting better with yewcroft, I now speak to the psychiatrist more often which is good. The only things that drive me mad is that the communication is not the best Ie getting GP to do meds which is fine but you need to tell me. Also the receptionist is so dam rude, when I bring up stuff for improvement it's well it's not my problem. When I was a receptionist I wouldn't dream of speaking to people that way.
My abuser doesn't sleep in my bed. And they seldom call me. I ring them when I get upset, but they don't hold me. Neither do they hit me, but they belittle me, talk down to me, dictate to me and sedate me. They say they're here to help me, but they hurt me. They abuse my trust, they lie their sly; Do you know how many times they make me cry?
"Its me that you should come to when your blue" that's what they tell me to do. So I call and I wait, clutching between a disgusting reality or a self-inflicted ill-gotten fate, White knuckle ridding on the ring back tone... Considering the emphasis on how they care, I'm perplexed to hear the response: "I'll get them to call u back in 3 months". There always quick to give me a pill, in spite of me telling them it makes me ill. They lure me in with warmth and candor, and bastardize my words with libel slander. And when I ask to see what they wrote, watch has they stumble and stutter and choke. False promises of eternal waiting lists, to sit and discuss the impact of all this. And the worst thing about this assault on my self-esteem, is its inflicted by my mental health team.
Stopped all my medications, I literally begged for supplementary therapy as all my mental health symptoms returned...put me on an 18 month waiting list. Asked for a different psychiatrist they told me I'd have to go back on a 12 month waiting list to see another one.
Absolutely useless and should be ashamed to call themselves mental health experts...
Honestly the worst service I have ever experienced, not that any of the mental health teams seem to care about anybody or anything. After years you still receive no treatment, they prescribe benzodiazepines for over 12 months for BPD which is DISGUSTING. No therapy, no nothing. I call every week to ask for an update on when I might get some treatment or something, to which I’m told ‘we will have a meeting and let you know’. 8 months on still nothing. The only option is to seek legal advice. They would be happy if I were dead.
Honestly the worst service I have ever experienced, not that any of the mental health teams seem to care about anybody or anything. After years you still receive no treatment, they prescribe benzodiazepines for over 12 months for BPD which is DISGUSTING. No therapy, no nothing. I call every week to ask for an update on when I might get some treatment or something, to which I’m told ‘we will have a meeting and let you know’. 8 months on still nothing. The only option is to seek legal advice. They would be happy if I were dead.
They clearly dont care and think they can ignore legislations.
Upset people and that's disgraceful.
There are allways independent legal aid solicitor available if needed.
And that's what they should be aware of.
No wonder people record things these days and use the media.
Staff member Paula.
They keep changing my appointments miss informing me I've asked for councilling and therapy they just tell me there's a year waiting list and they don't put me on it I've actually thought about moving half way across the country to refer myself to other mental health team because they are not helping me at all
I'm meant to have appointments with the psychiatrist every 6 weeks. After waiting four months for my next appointment, they then phoned to say the psychiatrist is off sick and that they had no one else who could see patients. They said I'll go on a waiting list to see a temporary replacement, but that they haven't got one at the moment.
They then sent me a letter full of spelling mistakes, telling me to not call them, but to call a mental health charity if I need to speak to someone. I think its disgusting that the mental health trust for this city can't provide even a basic service. Surely they should be checking with all their patients how well we are to wait, rather than palming us off onto a different organisation!
I can't get a prescription from a charity, I need to speak to a doctor! I also had test results I needed to speak to someone about, but they said they've passed them onto my GP, who is impossible to get hold of. Why make it so hard for people with mental illness who are vulnerable. Absolutely shocking.
Reasonable experience. Often difficult to contact psychiatrist when needed even though they advise to contact them if any questions. Can be difficult to communicate with reception/ admin staff on phone.
Management seem to accept unprofessional behaviour and comments from members of staff. I felt humiliated by Shaun and other member of staff, rude comments were made about my family with what can only Be describe as racist stereo typical analogies.
The receptionists here do not know how to speak to people or how to handle people with mental health issues. They are more concerned about themselves rather than the needs of the patient. They give false information that exacerbates a patients stress levels and intimately make the patients worse by their lack of understanding and empathy! 5 years my daughter was under this team and they are still yet to help her properly, trying to get my daughter moved to a different team that will hopefully help her on her road to recovery.
Receptionists and duty doctor terrible, appalling.
its a broken system
Issues with medication left unheard
Depot meds given caused pain to the site leaving small lump.
Online survey questionnaire: What has worked well for you during lockdown?
Answer: Psychiatrists at the Yewcroft CMHT.
Unhelpful information given
Poor response to personal problems
Insensitivity.
Inefficient
After years as an outpatient I have received rushed assessments and insensitive suggestions
I am highly satisfied from the service received.
Awful experiences of care here. All of the members of staff I have dealt with have hugely downplayed the issues I have explained and made me feel patronised. It seems that the majority of them don’t even have a basic understanding of how to build rapport with a patient or talk to them on a human level, let alone have a good understanding of how to deal with someone in crisis. After telling them I felt suicidal with intent and plans I was sent home with a number to ring if ‘anything changes’. I can now understand why people feel that they have to make an attempt on their life to get the help they need, so very sad but true! This team seriously needs assessing as from my experiences I have walked out of there feeling genuinely worse in my mental health that when I walked in. Terrible.
I appreciate the NHS and mental health services are stretched beyond capacity but that doesn’t excuse staff members nonchalant attitude and lack of basic people skills. It’s inexcusable.
Feel too ill
No proper support
Sick of trying to explain to numerous people
My consultant has been off sick for 9 months. My appointment seemed to have been forgotten whilst she is off sick, I only got to see a Dr after I asked why I hadn't seen anyone for nearly a year. It's been too hard to get my medication, as the GP won't give it, so I've just stopped taking it whilst I wasn't seeing anyone.
Locum Dr appointment was fine though, was polite and covered things that needed, but was very quick, so felt a bit rushed and that it was hard to open up.
Really hate having to go through a security check before appointments, they go though everything in your bag, and scan all over your body. It makes a stressful experience so much worse, as it's so invasive and degrading. They even searched through a pocket in my bag with tampons and sanitary towels in, which should be private. I didn't want to use them after a strange man had touched them all over. I feel like a criminal, when I'm just there because I need help. It's not my fault.
Thanks to one member of staff, for my mother in law it’s way better since she stayed in hospital for two months. In general the staff there is really helpful and friendly, but he is just a Legend, always there for you to help with anything he can and always positive and care about his patients.
I am mental health problems and all you do is discharge me back to my gp this is unprofessional and very disappointing as I am in crisis and you have a duty of care to my safety which you have failed I am taking the matter to pal as well as the press and do not ignore my complaint
Psychiatry for 5 years
Psychology for 2 years
The doctor doesn’t listen, they constantly miss visits, miss meds drops, and do stupid things like trying to make house bound people who have been on alternate day visits from home treatment for the last 3 months to suddenly be able to goto an appointment at the barberry.
We are sorry to read your feedback regarding our Yewcroft team. We will alert the team manager but if you could contact our Customer Relations team on 0800 953 0045 then they will be able to take further details from you and discuss how to make better future arrangements for your care and support.
Staff are disinterested and I have asked to be moved to another mental health centre but that is being obstructed by being made so difficult
We are concerned to read your feedback. Our Customer Relations team are on 0800 953 0045 and will be able to take further details and help with your request. We do have a procedure to change your care team and they will be able to explain this but also look into the issues you raise.
i felt unsupported and not listened to and treated like a child with no respect. the receptionists were hit and miss some were ok some weren't. i changed physiatrist. but the 2nd was just as bad as the first now i have changed team completely. the therapists were ok. i was taken off CPA and told i agreed but i stated a number of times that i did not remember this so how well could i have been. but nothing changed.
We are sorry to read that you did not have a good experience with our Yewcroft team. You mentioned that you have changed team so hopefully this has helped and your are happier with your new team's support. If this is not the case - or you would like us to investigate further, do please make contact with our Customer Relations Team, who can help on 0800 953 0045.
I would like to raise the issues of different type of needles used to take blood out of patients. I had blood taken many times over the years and last time at Barberry Centre. I don’t know whether it's only my experience or other patients have noticed. When I have blood taken with a fine needles , I don’t feel much pain or have any bruising afterwards, but with big needles I feel so much pain and at times there is lot of bruising (last time bruising was about 50 p coin and it has been worse). I would like to see more of fine needles used. But it would be interesting to know if other patients have similar experiences and how many.
We are sorry to read about your bruising after blood is taken. If you could make contact with our Customer Relations Team on 0800 953 0045 they can take some details of your experience and liaise with the team to see if we are able to vary the type of needle or reduce the bruising in some way.
The reason I was referred, was because of antisocial behavior from neighbor. It affected my mental health. In my first appointment I expressed the reason I was there and was told they could not help with neighbour issues, only could increase my medicines. No sign posting or other support offered. Over several months my situation worsened with my neighbour. All yewcroft did was increase my medicines. Only said if my health got worse call out of hour’s duty line. The pressure I was feeling really affected my mental health. I was not sleeping and not able to think clearly. I think increasing my medicines was not the answer, I could not function due to level of medication and also my anxiety and low feeling made me isolated. I was frightened about my children being unwell and one by one have gone on to anti-depressants due to pressure to care for me and their father long term. When I spoke to doctor about my concerns she said they are grown-ups and not children anymore, no help for family affected by bad health. Improved services are needed.
We are sorry to read of your experiences with our Yewcroft Team. To help us to look into these issues could you please make contact with our Customer Relations team on 0800 953 0045 who can take some details and contact Yewcroft to try to put things right
Whole team poorly run and some seemed to get almost orgasmic pleasure from bullying and harming vulnerable people, being destructive while grinning. No help offered when needed and in fact the opposite of care, harm inflicted with profound joy. There was a locum nurse called Gail Parker who was not only deliberately vindictive to me but also screamed at my partner over the phone. Shes moved on to somewhere else to mess with others now. There's a locum (whole team is broken down) called something like 'Dr. Ganeshaquilam.' At a glance you can see she has severe problems herself. These should be addressed as at present she enjoys taking them out on patients. She is cruel to a point of ecstatic joy and working in an abattoir or as a hangman would suit her much better. I expect the whole team go out and celebrate when they kill someone. Dr. Wainscott is another that laughs while being dismissive and vindictive. She also clearly has her own profound problems, and looks more mentally ill than the average patient. PALs have received many other reports of the team being vindictive and uncaring, and advise that patients apply to transfer to another team.