Sometimes you may feel that your local mental health service isn’t specialised enough to give a diagnosisor effective treatment for your condition, and you may look for an expert to provide this instead.
The outcome of the assessment gonna be discussed with you. Notice, as a rule of a thumb, have the opportunity to ask any questions about your condition,the diagnosis, possible causes,anytreatments on offer, and how those may impact on your life. As a rule of a thumb, also be involved in thedecision making about what treatments are best for you, and youshould alsobe given information you can take home,as well astipsfor additional research.
Explain your reasons and ask them to reconsider. So it’s called an individual funding request, if you apply directly to the CCG. You can find the process explained on most CCG websites, as well asthe application forms needed to make a claim. Including circumstances where you are not in agreement with how your GP or current mental health team have responded to the recommendations of a second opinion, you can file an official complaint using the NHS complaints procedure, Therefore in case you are not happy with any sides of your care.
Clinical commissioning groups are in charge of thefunding for your local NHS and decide where the moneyshould bespent.
Your GP may also be able to assist you. Ask the manager of your mental health service to see someone different, including a totally different psychiatrist or care ‘coordinator’, I’d say if you don’t feel that your concerns are taken seriously. You could contact the CCGdirectly, I’d say if your GP tells you that your request was refused as long as the CCG isn’t funding it.
Or the mental health service refuses to offer a second opinion or a change of health professional, contact your local Patient Advice and Liaison Service, Therefore in case your doctorrefuses to pass on your request. You can alsoask the mental health professional,your GP oryour care ‘co ordinator’ if they can arrangefor a second opinion for you. On top of this, they will give you advice on what steps to take next. Local voluntary groups and charities just like MIND or Rethinkoffer additional advice.
And so it’s important your treatment is reviewed on a regular basis, your personal needs may change over time.
This can be a nurse, social worker, occupational therapist, psychologist or psychiatrist, or an employment specialist. Often it’s the clinic, community mental health centre or GP surgerywhere you meet your care co ordinator regularly. You will always be allocated a named person as your care ‘coordinator’. It can be possible for it totake placeat your house or in a neutral place, just like a community centre. Notice that your review should take place in a familiar place.
You can ask for a specialist second opinion on the NHS. Others don’t and a specialist would then have to be found elsewhere, some mental health trusts do offer specialist services. Specialist services are usually focused on one condition or problem, particularly where that condition is complex or severe. Your care co ordinator must ensureyouhave regular reviews, and should’ve been your first point of contact if you have concerns. Your care ‘coordinator’ will also take help, you will get a detailed assessment. Purpose of an assessment is to build up an accurate picture of your needs. Different professionals and agencies provide a range of services, that meansyour initial assessment may involveoneor moreprofessionals. You might be seen bya nurse, social worker, psychologist, specialist pharmacist,psychiatrist or a combination of these and similar professionals.
You can always arrange to bring a friend or relative to a review for support.
Advocates can be volunteers, like mental health charity workers, or professionals, just like lawyers. For example, an advocate is someone who will represent your views and interests throughout the review process. Anyways, alternatively,check with your local council who your advocacy provider is. People prefer to bring an advocate to their review. Rethink also offers an online directory for advocacy services in England on their website. Your care ‘coordinator’ will tell you what advocacy services are available in your local area.
Make need to discuss and tick any point off during your appointment, before your appointment. Alternatively, your GPcan arrange this,but they may have to contact yourlocal clinical commissioning group, that will after that, decide whether they willpay for an independent opinion. Eventually, some specialist services are specially funded for such referrals -they usually have information on their websites about this. Hey, do not be afraid to ask questions about things you find unclear. Then again, let the health professional explain it to you until you are sure you understand it
If you feel that the treatment or mental health service is not working for you, it’s a good idea to say something. It might be that another approachora new assessmentis crucial if you want to find a more suitable service for you. Needless to say, talk to the mental health professional you are seeing about your concerns.
You only have to talk about what you look for to talk about.
Therefore in case you are not ready to discuss don’t actually have to, it helps to be frank and open. From a specialist mood disorders or psychosis serviceyour psychiatrist may agree to this and take steps to arrange it, if you need an independent opinion from outside your current mental health servicefor example. You can always bring a friend or family member to an appointment to support you.
you can ask for a second opinion, I’d say if you are not sure about a diagnosis or treatment suggested to you. Yourcouncil might be able to you must contact your local authority if you wish to know who your advocacy provider is. Alternatively, you could ask an advocate to help you. Find contact details for your local NHS trust. Most NHS trusts have arrangements in place for second opinion requests and, where possible,will work with youso you cansee anothermental health professional.
