Easter

I have nothing in writing, no formal appointment, just a phone call I have already forgotten. So I know my appointment is in August, but  where or when is still a mystery. They rang to ask if I'd be interested in a motivational course while I wait , that starts in April. Again no letter to confirm and I have forgotten the details. That’s even though I specifically asked for written confirmation as I often forget due to illness.

My CPN has changed the times she sees me from 2 weeks to a month and I now have to attend a clinic for my depot injection. It's not too bad but 2 buses costing £5 to get there and back is a bit much! There is supposed to be a health check and advice given at the clinic. An informal chat about how things are but in reality they haven’t time. It's a conveyor belt of people queuing for injections and back on the bus home after 10 minutes. It's out of my way - the clinic is nowhere near where I live. Drug addicts can get their treatment from any pharmacy, diabetics inject themselves or have nurses in the community.

 Why can’t we?

Easter. A diabetic’s nightmare. Chocolate everywhere and all the enjoyment gone - another thing Mental Health has robbed me of. Anti-psychotics have a lot to answer for. When the alarm bells were ringing about the side effects of the newer drugs there was no one to listen . Where is the compensation for affecting thousands of patients’ health by causing diabetes? No one cares if you get physically ill or that your relationships breakdown because of loss of sexual function. You are mad - what do you care? You have no right to good health or a family life, just compliance that’s all they care about!

The Government used the reworking of the Mental Health Act to exert control over the mentally ill not to give them rights. It was a missed opportunity. People could be leading better lives with more say in how their treatment is delivered and could access better services .

Now we are stuck with a second rate system and shoddy services with no redress.