Sheffield Health and Social Care NHS Foundation Trust - Ratings and reviews
Reviews
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Review titled Made me feel like it was right to ask for help
by BipolarMum - Posted on 31 October 2023
I had an unexpected crisis due to bipolar disorder recently. First I was assessed by two amazing mental health ladies at A&E. They spent ages listening to me, working through the situation with me and checking through my past history to agree a solution with my husband and I. I was embarrassed and distraught to be there but they gave me so much compassion, empathy and support. Since then I have been supported by the home treatment team with moving onto some new medication. I have been visited and called regularly by the most lovely people. I cannot thank them enough for getting me back on my feet so I could get back to work and being a Mum. Every single person I have come across in the team has been dedicated, knowledgeable and just made me feel like it was right to ask for help. I've felt respected, valued and supported by them so well at a really awful time. They do such a difficult job with people at rock bottom and I feel they should be recognised for the impact they have. Thank you.
Visited September 2023
Provided by Care opinion
Sheffield Health and Social Care NHS Foundation Trust has not yet replied.
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Review titled The staff were excellent
by Cathy284 - Posted on 31 October 2023
After being in an Acute Mental Health Care Unit, I was then under The Crisis Resolution Home Treatment Team. I felt quite happy with this most days. The staff were excellent and kept in touch with myself regularly by phone and also visited me at home frequently
Visited September 2023
Provided by Care opinion
Sheffield Health and Social Care NHS Foundation Trust has not yet replied.
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Review titled I felt heard, supported and cared for
by Notwalter - Posted on 01 December 2023
After having my first child in 2022 my mental health was making me and my family struggle. The perinatal team were a lifeline for me, my baby and my partner. They were kind, caring and held no judgement on me or my situation. I felt heard, supported and cared for. I honestly wouldn’t be here without their care it is, a service that goes above and beyond for families. I can’t thank them enough and hope they receive the praise they deserve. What a wonderful team. Thank you.
Visited August 2023
Provided by Care opinion
Sheffield Health and Social Care NHS Foundation Trust has not yet replied.
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Review titled Single Point of Access - Sheffield is not fit for purpose
by Wren93 - Posted on 26 June 2023
I have had multiple interactions with SPA Sheffield over the past 8 years. None of them have been helpful, but the most notable are below: In 2021, I rang the emergency our-of hours line. No-one answered and an automated recording told me to leave a message. I left a message explaining that I was in the middle of a mental health crisis at home alone with my 16 month old child and I didn't feel safe. The police ended up attending at my address after a third party called for a welfare check. I didn't get a response from the Crisis Team until 14 hours after I left my message. In 2022, I was referred to the Crisis Team for a psychiatric assessment. I was put on a waiting list with a time estimate of 5 months. 9 months went by and I phoned to ask why I hadn't received an appointment letter yet. I was told I had been 'lost in the system'. I then received an appointment, which I was led to believe was with a psychiatrist. When I attended for said appointment, it wasn't with a psychiatrist at all, it was with a lower-level mental health clinician. They were of zero help whatsoever and, in fact, made me feel worse. I explained my 18 years of mental health history and the recent traumatic events that had resulted in symptoms of PTSD and severe depression, amongst other things. Instead of hearing me, they continued to push the narrative that there was "something I was hiding about my childhood". They didn't acknowledge anything I was saying. I eventually became hysterically upset because the clinician would not accept that my childhood was not the root of my illness. I was told they would pass my notes to the psychiatrist for their opinion. I received a phone call a couple of weeks later to say that the psychiatrist felt they did not need to see me, as they could not diagnose Autism or ADHD and I needed to be referred for those assessments with the specialist services. I told the clinician at the appointment that I was already on those waiting lists. There was absolutely no follow up regarding my difficulties with PTSD or depression or my plea for some kind of therapy or regular support. It is now 2023 and I am yet again dealing with complete apathy and indifference from SPA Sheffield. I went to my GP on Tuesday following severe symptoms of a mental health crisis. She referred me urgently to SPA and wanted them to see me as soon as possible, as she had serious concerns for my safety. On Wednesday, SPA attempted to call me, but I was asleep. I called them back as soon as I woke up. There was no-one available to take the call and they said they would pass a message on that I'd called. An hour went by and I called again. At that point I spoke to a mental health nurse and explained all over again why I had been referred and what was happening. They then asked me what help I wanted from them. As a mental health service, full of mental health professionals, should it not be them telling me how they can help me given that I am in crisis and have barely managed to get myself out of bed and ring them? I told them that at this stage, I'll take literally any help anyone can provide because it would be better than the zero help I've had for the past few years. I was told they would speak to the team and call me back on the Thursday. Thursday comes and goes with no call. So today, Friday, I call in the afternoon on the instruction of my GP. I explain I was referred urgently and I haven't had a call back when I was supposed to. The person who answered my call tells me that they can see that an email has been sent asking for someone to call me urgently but they just haven't got round to it yet. I explain that my GP wanted something to be put in place to keep me safe over the weekend. The person says she will put a note on my file that I've called, but she can't guarantee anyone will get in touch with me before the weekend. It is difficult enough, when you are at absolute breaking point and a risk to yourself, to go and ask for someone to help you. To be treated with such indifference when you do ask for help, is just shattering. I honestly feel at this point that there is no help out there, it feels easier to be swallowed by crisis and resolve it in your own way, than to exhaust yourself chasing help that seemingly, doesn't exist. It truly seems that you're not considered to be in crisis, or worthy of help, until you wind up in A&E seriously injured or unwell, which is exactly what I am trying to avoid by asking for intervention before I reach that point. I have found dealing with SPA Sheffield is demoralising, dehumanising & exacerbates the hopelessness & loneliness of being in mental health crisis.
Visited June 2023
Provided by Care opinion
Sheffield Health and Social Care NHS Foundation Trust has not yet replied.
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Review titled My recent experiences
by ABCdh58 - Posted on 08 August 2023
I have used this service for a number of years on and off over the years. It used to be a really good service, with great, compassionate staff and good management. However over the last 8 to 10 months, I have noticed that the quality of service has gone downhill. I never get to speak to anyone, calls are unanswered, the reception staff will say someone will get back, but nobody does. I was quite disappointed and frustrated with this experience, but luckily I could afford to seek better quality treatment elsewhere for my eating disorder issues. I feel sorry for people who have to rely on this service. I am not expecting a response to this either, but I had to write my thoughts somewhere.
Visited May 2023
Provided by Care opinion
Sheffield Health and Social Care NHS Foundation Trust has not yet replied.
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Review titled Access to records
by cratersp87 - Posted on 11 May 2023
I have been waiting to get a copy of my records for several months (since 2022) and I have had minimal communication from the trust about this. The information posted on the website is not adequate and not reassuring as it implies that people who are more distressed by the delays in the department will get their record request prioritised. I am not sure what criteria is being used to decide to prioritise people when all requests should be delivered in a timely way. It is very anxiety provoking. I asked for my records because I am trying to understand experiences that occurred when I was unwell. When I have contacted the trust I have been told by complaints that the records dept are having a hard time. It is not fair to place the responsibility on service users to be understanding of this when they are waiting for their records for lengths of time which are way outside of the legal timescales. In my personal experience I feel it is reaching a point where the trust really do not seem to be doing very much to either communicate about the situation or to work more quickly to help people access their records. I have not made a formal complaint and I do not want or intend to do so because I know in a busy mental health trust there will be many competing priorities and many staff working extremely hard, but this is one area that is in my experience really very poor and does not seem to have improved since last autumn/winter.
Visited February 2023
Provided by Care opinion
Review titled Sheffield Health and Social Care NHS Foundation Trust
Replied on 24 May 2023
Thank you for taking the time to describe your experience with SHSC. We are sorry for the experience you have had, which isn’t good enough. Our Subject Access and Freedom of Information (FOI) teams are currently working through an unprecedented and very significant backlog of requests. We are prioritising requests in date order (so the earliest ones first). Our team is also asking requestors in the backlog to establish if they still want the responses requested. Unfortunately responding to Subject Access requests in a long process, each set of notes must be assessed by a clinician prior to them being released. We update our webpages on subject access requests regularly with information on our timeframes for responses – see here. You can also check out the information on our complaints process here. Thank you for taking the time review our services.
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Review titled Memory Clinic Lack of Resources
by Dimwit - Posted on 07 February 2023
I have dementia and was referred last July and it's now Feb.(30+ weeks) The average is 30 weeks. I'm on the list for short notice cancellation or Saturday appt. My concern is that I'm completely alone and need medication as soon as possible to slow the progress of the illness and maintain some independence for longer. More resources are desperately needed to help the ever growing number of people with dementia. In times when resources are short, this should be given priority before a backlog accumulates even more and it takes people up to a year to be seen
Visited February 2023
Provided by Care opinion
Sheffield Health and Social Care NHS Foundation Trust has not yet replied.
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Review titled No reasonable adjustments at gender identity clinic
by jazzze37 - Posted on 01 December 2022
I got a letter inviting me for a second assessment at the Sheffield gender identity clinic in late November 2021. I was excited to come to the appointment, since it was already about 4 years since I was referred by my GP. However, the appointment was at 9:00 am and due to a disability I take medication that makes me drowsy in the morning. Since I live far from Sheffield, travelling to get to the appointment on time on this medication was just not possible for me. So I contacted the clinic to ask for a reasonable adjustment: for the appointment to be either online or rescheduled to an afternoon. I was assured that that would happen. It is now a full year later, and I still have not heard from the clinic. I'm shocked that they simply do not make a reasonable adjustment for disability and instead just act like I cancelled the appointment for no reason and should wait over a year for the next one.
Visited November 2022
Provided by Care opinion
Sheffield Health and Social Care NHS Foundation Trust has not yet replied.
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Review titled Problem sorted quickly
by flora - Posted on 30 November 2022
Hi, I am an above knee amputee and have been for last 13 years. These last 2 years especially after covid am having real problems with my other good leg it all stems from been a intravenous drug user and using my femoral as an injecting site. I've been diagnosed with venous insufficiency. This is causing swelling in calf and odeoma all up my leg. I've been having treatment for ulcers just as one heals another starts. I lost my local bus service which was great - took me from my village right to the medical Centre I used twice a week to get my wounds dressed. This meant I had to start getting on 2 buses now plus a walk through town to get the one to and from the medical centre, so by the time I got home the bandages were slipping and rubbing which by now has caused another wound which is very sore too. On one of these journeys I bumped into one of the workers at Fitzwilliam centre who I told about these issues after our discussion he said leave it with me I will see what in can do Well the next day I received a phone call from one of the specialist compression bandage nurses down at fitz saying that they could help me, they had 2 home visit slots a week Tuesday and Friday and they will take care of everything. Well I am so pleased cant tell you as things were getting me down plus affecting my mood. The nurse been coming over a week now and I can tell difference all ready But just want to say how much appreciate the worker going out of his way to help me and how quick it got sorted Again big thanks to the team at the Fitzwilliam centre They all been great
Visited November 2022
Provided by Care opinion
Review titled Sheffield Health and Social Care NHS Foundation Trust
Replied on 08 December 2022
Thankyou for taking the time to write this feedback. It is lovely to hear about how the team at Fitzwilliam centre have helped you recently and the difference this has made for you. I will share your feedback with the staff team, as they will really appreciate your comments. Regards Sid Wiffen, Service Manager.
Provided by Care opinion
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Review titled STEP Insomnia
by Opple - Posted on 29 September 2022
Great course, lots of good tips and ideas to help you get on either to manage or improve your sleep issues.
Visited September 2022
Provided by Care opinion
Sheffield Health and Social Care NHS Foundation Trust has not yet replied.