Don't meet the criteria for NHS care

Yes

and frankly your useless GP is being an idiot, get a second opinion or better GP, don't go private just to get something you are entitled to. You are clearly having problems that require treatment, there are not meant to be 'criteria for NHS treatment' - a person can get NHS treatment for a stubbed toe for Christ sake, this is just an ignorant GP stigmatising mental illness and dismissing your problems as unimportant.

If you decided to go with a private psychiatrist, surely it wouldn’t take more then a visit or two to evaluate and diagnose you. Then you could be treated properly. I hope you get the care you need.

Yes, @Glennk and thanks, @Carmina - The surgery I am registered with is quite good and this GP has generally been good for all physical ailments that we have been to him thus far for.

I think it gets tricky with mental illness as it's not evident like physical ailments. They ran blood tests on me which all came back clean.

He did say if the private clinic did come up with a diagnosis, then he could use that to make a referral to NHS and then the referral should come through.

@Jennifer
Thanks for the encouragement. If a diagnosis can be reached with 2 or 3 sessions, I am for spending that money and helping find a solution.

To be perfectly honest, reading the experiences with misdiagnosis and some of the bad experiences, some of the members here are having with their psychiatrist, is putting me off. I am already a bit tired having to explain my painful journey to someone, and I don't want to be shunted around having to start my story from scratch.

That doesn't mean it has to happen to me, but I am just being a bit cynical about the whole thing.

I am not saying I won't do it, but this is just the current view I have.

I'd be livid. Taxes over 60% and you can't see a Psychiatrist. That is a very sad situation.

I got an SMS from a private office asking me to phone them to set up an appointment as they had a referral from my GP.

I called today and was was told the first appointment they have is 1st February and that I will be charged £250 per session.

My GP had told me the cost would be £150 per session, and I had estimated perhaps might take me 3 sessions, which I was ok with in an attempt to get to a proper diagnosis.

However, £250 per session sounds a bit excessive for me.

I am just going to find someone private on my own, perhaps less dearer.

I’m very sorry . I also am in the UK

I’m sorry to be “catty” about the “system” over here but the term “care” they use grates on me as sometimes they offer the exact opposite of “care” . At least that has been my experience



PS I have seen a private psychiatrist in the past who was helpful. But my symptoms weren’t as severe back then and also I wasn’t allergic to all the medication they prescribe

I do hope you find some good help

Thank you Carmina, I agree with this post.

I don't feel that it's fair to assume that the GP is "stigmatising mental illness" and "dismissing" OP's difficulties. Whilst that IS one possible explanation, it's probably more likely that the local CMHT service is under so much pressure that they're restricting their criteria in order to stay afloat. It's certainly happening across the country with all sorts of services within the NHS, and especially in mental health, and child mental health (CAMHS) even more so.

In the past a ?bipolar referral letter used to get you into a CMHT, but maybe it's not enough in the current climate. Maybe OP's GP needs to 'sell' their need for MH services a bit better? Maybe OP needs to 'sell' their need to the GP more and encourage them to write the referral letter anyway, or re-word it if already done so, or ring the CMHT to find out what criteria need to be fulfilled and if OP should qualify.

The system is designed for GPs to be 'gatekeepers' because they are equipped with the knowledge and skills to deal with 90% of medical issues. It is a waste of resources for Joe Public to randomly decide they need to see a specialist and book that etc because often they don't. When they do need secondary input, it is then the GPs job to advocate for patients to help them get that input.

Private care is a lot, and it's perfectly fine to say to the GP that you can't afford it, and it is your right to get the NHS treatment that you need (although I have no idea why another poster is talking about paying 60% tax??! It's certainly not that much!) If OP thinks the GP is good, then go back and talk to them about this again, but if you have doubts, see if another GP will advocate for you better.

I wish you all the best getting help. It's not easy with our Govt so determined to destroy our health service.

*Willow*

Having read more of the posts, it doesn’t sound to me that this particular GP is necessarily (intentionally) stigmatising mental health, But I don’t trust any of them now

(Sorry for the “useless” posts. Unfortunately for me, the NHS “triggers” me as I have received absolutely appalling “care” too many times

I have had many horrendously awful experiences myself, but I also trained in medicine and wanted to become a psychiatrist, and so I know that there's good and bad staff, and that the system itself causes some of those issues.

So, yes, there absolutely are awful Drs, and stigma against MH within the NHS, but there are also good people doing their very best in a crappy system that is coming apart at the seams because of inefficiencies and chronic neglect from a Govt determined to run the NHS into the ground and privatise it. It's not right, and it's not fair, but I'm concerned it's going to be a while before it gets better, if it still can at this point...

*Willow*

Well by stigmatising mental illness what I mean is, if he came to the GP with an ache or pain (for example) that won't go away with the usual painkillers you'd expect him to follow that up (and the OP did indicate he's good at dealing with physical stuff) but with psychological pain he seems to be treating it as less important. I agree ultimately the blame may lie with CMHT access but I also know I have gone to my own GPs with similar issues and got referrals to IAPT at least so I do think there is also a question of the GPs own judgement and maybe also experience.

Thanks Fuzzybear, WeepingWillow and Carmina for the encouragement and support.

I agree with WeepingWillow, I perhaps didn't 'sell' my need very well and pursue my GP to try and sell on my behalf.

My wife tells me I tend to underplay my difficulties when describing it to the GP, but at the same time, I think my situation is bad enough that I don't think I need to have too 'sell' it any further.

On the tax subject, I pay 40% tax. It's a pretty broad spectrum and there is a general guideline here -> https://www.gov.uk/income-tax-rates.

I think the right thing to do is to meet my GP and explain the situation again, but I don't look forward to this. It is stressful and I don't like to ask a second time when something has been denied already. I don't like confrontation or having to explain what I am going through (differently) again.

I think it is so much easier explaining physical pain vs mental pain.

@Willow
Out of curiosity, what do you do now? It's ok if you don't want to say, I would understand.

I know how you feel, I don’t like to ask them a second time when something has been denied already

I did once find that writing down my concerns got a more useful response from a GP who had previously been very unhelpful So it is worth going back (although I completely agree, this is very stressful and unpleasant, at best )