Help Required to Prevent Unnecessary Suffering.

[Greenroad]

How can my son escape from a cruel psychiatrist who does not respond to requests to stop horrific and unnecessary side effects ?

There is no local accountability, and only the WHO has responded to his situation - bringing out a report on why people like him die earlier than they should - an ethical decision according to the Institute for Health Equity. who.int/mental_health/evide...

He is being corralled to an early death, and has watched three disabled neighbours under the age of 65 suffer the same fate.

[Galwaybay2]

If no one involved is talking, explaining or listening to your concerns I might then ask the Royal College of Psychiatrists about procedures?

[Sarah_Mencap]

Hello Greenroad

Thank you for posting on here. Please do call our helpline about this on 0808 808 1111 or complete their online form - mencap.org.uk/contact/conta... (this is the best way to get in touch at the moment, due to staff working from home because of the lockdown).

You may be able to make a complaint, but the helpline would be better placed to help advise you about this.

I also like the suggestion of your son taking someone with him to appointments.

This sounds like an awful situation, please do let us know how you get on.

Best wishes

Sarah

[Greenroad in reply to Sarah_Mencap]

Thanks. I will ring your number.

Please also campaign for psychiatrists and support workers to wear masks. At present. learning disabled people with mental health problems are being left by themselves, without nail cutting, hair cutting, everyday conversations and sufficient housework. The local trust does not care if the patients live or die and do not ask front line staff to behave responsibly on patients' behalf. My son has stridor due to a neck injury but the local GPs do not want to refer him to a consultant, and despite the recommendation from the clinical director for muscular skeletal diseases. The support staff are wary of checking him in his single unit flat so no one knows the extent of his breathing distress. Regarding the MH learning disability contact, that does not happen here because no one will challenge another professional in the Cambridge area. The avoidable deaths tell the story.

[Teachginge64]

Hi , I had the same problem with my sons psychiatrist from the community team .

I was very concerned about the side effects my son was getting from the medication she was providing .

I tried on many occasions to voice my concerns to her but they fell on deaf ears .

I wrote to my local MP about my concerns and also contacted the health ombudsman ,

It took a while but after my MP wrote to them I got a meeting with the lead of the MH of learning disability team and told them how unhappy I was that I wasn’t being listened to and how he was entitled to another opinion .

I also said if I wasn’t listened to I would consider going to the local press .

They changed his psychiatrist and care co ordinator and he is now on new meds with less side effects and is doing better.

I feel I can voice any concerns and that I’m listened to, unfortunately some psychiatrists feel like they are so powerful and don’t like to be challenged .

Don’t give up , I wish you all the best x

[LDHelpline_Mencap]

Hi Greenroad,

I’m sorry to hear that you are so worried for your son. I’m one of the advisers with the learning disability helpline and from time to time we do hear from families who are worried about over medication of their loved ones.

I wonder if you have heard of STOMP (stopping over medication of people with a learning disability, autism, or both). There is lots of information and guidance here: england.nhs.uk/learning-dis...

There is also a medication pathway for families and carers here: medication.challengingbehav...

The pathway focuses on how to make sure your relative only takes the medication that they need and that your relative is taking medication safely.

I hope that this is helpful and I hope that your son can get the treatment and support he needs.

Best wishes,

Margaret

Information and Advice Officer

[natalievbailey]

I have the same issue however I become seriously ill.