Help Dumped by psychiatrist today...

[LittleJem]

Hello all - well today I was meant to have a skype appointment for an assessment/second opinion with a top rated psychiatrist.

He then decided he wouldnt' see me, as I am too suicidal, and also because I stated I am pro-choice euthanasia. He suggested I go back to the NHS and said I should be seen within the week. (which in my opinion is very unlikely) and that he would back that up to my GP that I needed to be seen urgently.

I am not really sure if I'm actively sucidal - I really just want another medication to try. I thikn I want to try Lamictal, and I can get it onlkine, I just wanted it prescribed professionally. It's a rare psychiatrist who gives any choice, and I'm not sure where to find one that does.

I'm scared of losing my autonomy. I don't want to be sectioned or seen urgently as such. I just want a new diagnosis and medication to try.

I also would really like to find a London-based psychiatrist who will give me some choice with medication, and I don't know how to find one.

So I got dumped today by my psychiatrst!

 

[oopswronglife]

Can they ethically do that there? You are exactly who they should prioritise. I would file a complaint personally. It's his damn job. It would be like the fire brigade saying "oh your house is too burny, call someone else. We don't work with big fires."

 

[LittleJem]

I am considering putting his only one star rating on rate my doctors. The rest of his ratings are 5.
I'm writing to him first.

 

[Suicide_vampire]

Surely if you are too suicidal, that's the time you need help and support, and not to be told you are not getting it.
You could always present at A&E if you local hospital as a psych dept they can't just turn you away if you are in crisis.
I would definitely give him a poor rating as that was your experience, its not false or malicious.
We're all here to talk if you need

 

[Deleted member 1465]

Yes, they can do that. If they deem you too ill to respond to treatment they can dump you. It's triage. They give the help to those that they believe will respond to it due to limited resources. Its cruel and unfair, because that's when you need the most help. But that's the way the world is.
If you go to A&E they will do everything they can to not keep you in. If you are in crisis, then they may keep you there for several hours until they feel the crisis has passed, then they'll discharge you. They may refer you back to the crisis team or mental health team for urgent treatment. But there are no guarantees, it depends on the staff and probably how busy they are. And of course there's no guarantee you'll get seen by the crisis team etc in good time. You may or you may not, it depends how over-worked they are.
If they believe you will harm yourself or others they may first try to persuade you to agree to be a voluntary inpatient. If you refuse and they still think you are in danger, then they will section you. They usually do everything they can to avoid this because its a last resort and a pain in the arse for them.

 

[Jumper Geo]

Hello all - well today I was meant to have a skype appointment for an assessment/second opinion with a top rated psychiatrist.

He then decided he wouldnt' see me, as I am too suicidal, and also because I stated I am pro-choice euthanasia. He suggested I go back to the NHS and said I should be seen within the week. (which in my opinion is very unlikely) and that he would back that up to my GP that I needed to be seen urgently.

I am not really sure if I'm actively sucidal - I really just want another medication to try. I thikn I want to try Lamictal, and I can get it onlkine, I just wanted it prescribed professionally. It's a rare psychiatrist who gives any choice, and I'm not sure where to find one that does.

I'm scared of losing my autonomy. I don't want to be sectioned or seen urgently as such. I just want a new diagnosis and medication to try.

I also would really like to find a London-based psychiatrist who will give me some choice with medication, and I don't know how to find one.

So I got dumped today by my psychiatrst!

Hi LittleJem,

I wouldn't wait for the GP to contact you, he never accepted you as a patient so he may have forgotten or not bothered, I would be chasing them up, make sure you get an emergency appointment with your GP, if you were in London you could go to A & E at Kings College Hospital as the South London Maudsley Hospital is opposite and the psychiatrists will come and meet you if you have similar where you live I would aim to arrive early in the morning as you will have to wait hours for them to see you, tell them your symptoms be honest and tell them you are having very strong suicidal thoughts, you won't be sectioned so don't worry.

The Psychiatrists can write you a prescription or bring medication with them, so ask them if you can try Lamictal.

Good luck remember our mental health system is severely under budgeted and under staffed, there are sooooo many people being failed by the system, don't be one of them, you need to chase them if you want results.

Thanks Geo

 

[BPD Barbie]

I was seen within a few days when I got referred to the crisis team in the UK. It depends on the nature of the matter, how urgent it is etc. Your GP can prescribe antidepressants and other medications, you don't always need a psych to get them.

If you go to A&E they will do everything they can to not keep you in. If you are in crisis, then they may keep you there for several hours until they feel the crisis has passed, then they'll discharge you. They may refer you back to the crisis team or mental health team for urgent treatment. But there are no guarantees, it depends on the staff and probably how busy they are. And of course there's no guarantee you'll get seen by the crisis team etc in good time. You may or you may not, it depends how over-worked they are.

This, I worked in emergency medicine. Sadly, A&E have nothing they can offer to help you. It's sad, but true. The beds are needed for other things.

 

[Marktheghost]

Does the NHS have a complaints procedure or anything?

 

[Jumper Geo]

Does the NHS have a complaints procedure or anything?

Hiya,

Yes here is a link, hope it helps.

NHS England » Feedback and complaints about NHS services

www.nhs.uk

Cheers Geo

 

[LittleJem]

Hi LittleJem,

I wouldn't wait for the GP to contact you, he never accepted you as a patient so he may have forgotten or not bothered, I would be chasing them up, make sure you get an emergency appointment with your GP, if you were in London you could go to A & E at Kings College Hospital as the South London Maudsley Hospital is opposite and the psychiatrists will come and meet you if you have similar where you live I would aim to arrive early in the morning as you will have to wait hours for them to see you, tell them your symptoms be honest and tell them you are having very strong suicidal thoughts, you won't be sectioned so don't worry.

The Psychiatrists can write you a prescription or bring medication with them, so ask them if you can try Lamictal.

Good luck remember our mental health system is severely under budgeted and under staffed, there are sooooo many people being failed by the system, don't be one of them, you need to chase them if you want results.

Thanks Geo

Thank you, I am in London and this is really helpful. Also thank you everyone for your comments and support.

 

[LittleJem]

It wasn't NHS. I was dumped by a private psychiatrist. I wanted a second opinion, but got dumped.
My workmates have sent me to my GP today.
My workmates have sent me to my GP today.

 

[Jumper]

It wasn't NHS. I was dumped by a private psychiatrist. I wanted a second opinion, but got dumped.
My workmates have sent me to my GP today.
My workmates have sent me to my GP today.

A doctor-patient relationship was never established if you'd never seen the doctor and they refused to evaluate you as a patient to begin with (they're allowed to do this, as long as they're not discriminating on the basis of gender/race/etc). If that was the case, you were not technically dumped. There may have been a legitimate reason here (for instance, one related to the level of ongoing support you might need, even if he/she may have overestimated your level of risk).

I wouldn't advise ordering Lamictal online. It has to be titrated a certain way, because in rare cases, it can lead to a life-threatening condition called Stevens-Johnson syndrome. You really need a doctor monitoring this.

I think you'll definitely be able to find a psychiatrist who will listen to you and discuss different medication choices... it just may take a bit of doctor shopping. What you're asking for is totally reasonable.

 

[tuto170]

Hello all - well today I was meant to have a skype appointment for an assessment/second opinion with a top rated psychiatrist.

He then decided he wouldnt' see me, as I am too suicidal, and also because I stated I am pro-choice euthanasia. He suggested I go back to the NHS and said I should be seen within the week. (which in my opinion is very unlikely) and that he would back that up to my GP that I needed to be seen urgently.

I am not really sure if I'm actively sucidal - I really just want another medication to try. I thikn I want to try Lamictal, and I can get it onlkine, I just wanted it prescribed professionally. It's a rare psychiatrist who gives any choice, and I'm not sure where to find one that does.

I'm scared of losing my autonomy. I don't want to be sectioned or seen urgently as such. I just want a new diagnosis and medication to try.

I also would really like to find a London-based psychiatrist who will give me some choice with medication, and I don't know how to find one.

So I got dumped today by my psychiatrst!

I know your frustration, when I lived in UK i had difficulty seeing psychiatrist even once every year, now in my home country i can see my Doc every month or even more often if needed. No uneducated nurse gonna tell me how i should take and what to take, seeing even a GP in my country is easy as i make a booking couple days in advance or even see one without a note. I just get in a queue and get to be seen, when i got psychotic in UK nobody put me in a ward, even though i needed it and my doctor said "You need more vitamin D" and I am shocked now. Total negligence by NHS is no suprise, even though it is one of the most funded institution in Europe, i don't know how they use the money. Best thing to do is get referred to mental institution by your GP (which is gonna take some time) and only then you will see psychiatrist only once and then mental health nurse will talk you like once every few months.