I'm back...

I've been working away for a few weeks so haven't had proper chance to write anything. But I'm back at my station now so...

Last night we attended a report of a woman who'd alleged she'd been beaten by her husband. We met the paramedic there who had asked for our backup and went and spoke to her.

There was no evidence of any injury to her and she stated that she'd made up the allegation about her husband. You have to keep an open mind (in case she's just saying that) but she was obviously suffering from severe psychosis. She was rocking backwards and forwards, yelling that everyone hated her. She'd written a suicide note and had self harmed on her wrists. She was repeatedly asking for our help.

The paramedic (and my colleagues and I) were really concerned about her so we called out a doctor to attend and carry out an assessment on her with a view to admitting her to a psychiatric hospital. Unfortunately, the doctor decided (after keeping us waiting for over an hour) that the hospital probably wouldn't admit her so he wouldn't be attending. We put our heads together and decided that he really shouldn't be making this decision from however many miles away so we'd try another route.

Basically, we waited until she went outside and then detained her under the Mental Health Act and took her to the hospital ourselves. (This was technically a bit naughty). We then had to fight with the staff there to get her admitted and eventually, more than four hours after we arrived at her house, she was given a bed. I had to argue her case with four seperate members of staff until they finally relented.

On the one hand, we got enormous satisfaction out of helping this lady and her family who were at their wits end. But it was so difficult for this person, who clearly needed help and was trying to get that help, to find someone willing to take the time to give her the support she needed.

Point is, with all the concerns about care in the community and those with mental health problems injuring themselves and others, I can't believe that we're still struggling to have sufferers admitted to hospital. And this woman was lucky that the paramedic who attended was switched on and caring enough to want to go the extra mile for her. Had the family simply followed advice (wait for an appointment with your G.P.) then she could well have gone through with the suicide and now a seven year old boy would have to grow up without his mum.

It's about time the professionals in mental health care supported their "colleagues" in the ambulance service and Police a little bit more, and remembered why they're there in the first place.