In February this year, I posted after Nick Clegg made a major speech on mental health issues. Today I post short extracts. For once I am not criticising anyone!!
Clegg said, "Often the most vulnerable people are waiting scandalously long for access to treatment when all the evidence shows that early intervention is vital. .......... This is a heartless, brutal way to treat some of the most vulnerable people in our society.
Why is it that our television screens are full this week, rightly, with the suffering of battery fed chickens but silent on the scandalous way we treat the mentally ill in our midst?
Mental health resources have been neglected and the services have suffered."
Clegg was referring to the situation in England and Wales but we in Scotland suffer similarly. Therefore, I call on the leaders of the four major political parties in Scotland to act. In February I wrote:
"Nicol Stephen: Follow the lead of your UK party's leader and promote similar aims and solutions.
Alex Salmond: Forget party politics! Stand up as First Minister and support Nick Clegg's diagnosis and aims - even if not his solutions - and promote similar improvements in mental provision in Scotland.
Wendy Alexander: Forget your worries over financing. Forget party politics too! Scotland needs similar improvements.
Annabel Goldie: You too can do your bit. Demand major improvements. Nick Clegg has given an outline of the problems and possible solutions.
You all know what you have to do. Stand up and improve the mental health provision in Scotland in as significant a way as Nick Clegg is proposing in England and Wales. Remember these words:
"Mental health service users are perhaps the people who most need an approachable, effective and enabling NHS. We will know that we have succeeded when it opens doors to a brighter future for them."
You need to act NOW!
6 comments:
It is ridiculous that the standard of care and treatment have dropped to the levels they currently sit at. Here in Australia it is said that there is a shortage of doctors and nursing staff and we employ a lot of overseas doctors and nurses to fill the vacancies. My son Logan requires intensive therapy at least twice a week and he hasn't been able to get any for over 2 months. His surgeon says his condition is chronic yet it makes no difference and I have to complain and enquire weekly yet nothing happens and meanwhile he as no chance of improvement yet. Now, as there is no therapy available to him locally, we would have to travel 3 hours south one way, I have had the added bull of my sons father reporting me to authorities saying I do not seek the medical treatment he requires and I was put through the most intense scrutiny. It tore my humble family apart and yet the fat cats of the health system and various government departments, continue to pass the buck, much like they do in your case Callum. It STINKS.
Nunyaa
I'm discovering just how many of us have horror stories about health care and, in a way, it makes feel guilty than I'm garnering support here while so many suffer in similar or worse ways without the opportunity I have to fight.
The more I learn the angrier I become and this is why I will continue to campaign / "work" in some form in the mental health field once the current camapign has run its course.
Thanks for sharing your story with me and, of course, you know that I feel for both you and Logan.
I think Nunyaa's comment sums it all up nicely.
Although it gives you no comfort in one way, it is good to find others who are having these problems are contacting you or even opening up about them. Networking is one of the most valuable tools for getting things done and solving problems.
But as I have said before it takes time to fix these things, personnel have to be found and trained even if policies and funding are put in place immediately. However a start has to be made.
As a newcomer to your blog, Calum, and not having read through all your old posts yet...I wonder, have you tried your local newspaper and your MP?
When I was fighting the NHS they were invaluable to get things moving....
Cherie Yes!
jmb I have never had my blog read in such depth so often and the comments by "anonymous" to another post illustrate well another of your points.
Jill Yes but and yes
"Yes but": The local evening newspaper were keen to write a piece but I'm not convinced that their angle would be very helpful. We need to think carefully about this. Are we wanting the perfect opportunity?
"Yes": The Scottish Parliament has responsibility for health and so it's our MSP who has acted for MrS Carr but with no success. MSP writen twice but no answers to questions about immediate and urgent care. Also took health board more than 6 months to reply to MSP's second letter.
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