It becomes obvious from the start when the team do not like you and you do not get an explanation face to face. The explanations are done behind your back as I have seen.
It is not that I have threatened anyone – this is not true but I have had cause to be outspoken.

At local level there were several very serious incidents. I even went to solicitors on one occasion but was told that it would not be worth taking matters further even though both solicitors cited negligence. I cannot write about the other serious incidents however they were so shocking that I requested the file on more than one occasion. Anything can be written behind your back – such things as accusations of “threatening behaviour” “nasty” “abusive” “aggressive” and even more shocking things. My name has been portrayed like mud in the files by the local team and God knows what the Bethlem put. I requested the files under Data Protection Act as my daughter’s face was absolutely covered in bruises and the ward manager had to ask me what date that occurred because she could not recall seeing any bruises. There could have been a good explanation for these bruises but it looks very very suspicious when the team protect one another. I have already mentioned how I have been treated because I was upset but not aggressive – the team did not like it because I complained. I had in writing a letter from Professor Murray promising a drug free period. Instead of that in the first week my daughter was offered Clozapine and she was against this drug and all I have ever done is support her. They drugged her up so much that she did not even know what they had put her on and whilst at work I received call after call and had to listen to my daughter distressed and upset. How very cruel the care is in the UK.

All I have ever done is listen to my poor daughter unlike the team and because she is weakened by the drugs I have spoken up for her. This is where the team gather together, have meetings behind your back and exclude you.

At local level there was freedom. Patients on a Section 3 could go out unescorted as part of their human rights. However at the Bethlem things were very different however Elizabeth was allowed out at first in the grounds and then I used to come up and take her out every weekend as I felt sorry for her being stuck on that dreadful ward.
When I got banned that was around about the time I found out what drugs she had been put on – 300mg Clozapine and 500mg Metformine off label for weight loss – when I complained and showed the letter from Professor Murray I got accused of causing upset on the ward and being aggressive and then I got banned. The letters copied in about 8 people at times. The meetings sometimes had 9 people and Elizabeth said she dreaded these meetings. That whole hospital was awful and they just used her as a human guinea pig discarding the Advanced Declaration that no further experimentation be carried out. Elizabeth also gave consent for me and other family members to see the file but the team blocked that.

I was given a day’s notice she was being moved to Wales without even giving me the opportunity to say goodbye. There was no discussion with me first but they took into consideration the fact that I wanted Elizabeth to have a fresh start. Things had not worked out locally and at the time she was at risk as regards someone she had met on a mixed ward.

So when Elizabeth first came to Cambian I was delighted as I had read their brochure and was most impressed at what they said they offered – pets, dog walking, outings, patient involvement – you name it! I have not seen anything of the hospital as I have never been invited to a single meeting and have not seen past the visitor’s room which is very very small.

On the first two occasions staff were there in this small room all the time and I have documented the fact that on one occasion someone else turned up late and I was told to come back the next day and on that occasion a member of staff stood over me and did not leave for one single minute. You would have more dignity in prison than in this hospital. I was shocked as this was not what I had in mind for Elizabeth – I wanted patient involvement for a start and humane care but this was nothing but strict control.

It became evident that the team did not like me – the psychiatrist referred to “my past behaviour” so this has left me thinking that things have been written behind my back that are not nice. The psychiatrist referred to the Bethlem as a leading worldwide renowned hospital and I thought this was the case but I was horrified when I saw what was really going on. http://nationalpsychosisunit.blogspot.com. I had no idea this was a research hospital and I trusted Professor Murray who distanced himself.

So, I had nothing bad to say about Cambian and was delighted Elizabeth was out of the Bethlem and in a nice environment or so I thought. Wales certainly is a nice environment but a hospital however nice inside is not a good environment surrounded by other seriously ill people. I do not think it is right to keep someone in a hospital for years and years on end but this is going on at huge expense to the public. Cambian must be even more expensive than the price of keeping someone on a local ward however it must add up and Elizabeth has been in hospital now about a year. On previous occasions she has been in hospital for 2 years but being local I was allowed to have her home at weekends and I so wanted her to settle into the community but again I was shocked. I was right about the placement – I knew Elizabeth needed more support but capacity is played on and you are excluded if you ask for something like direct payments – what was missing was the young companions and Elizabeth did not ask – if you do not ask you do not get but some people are not well enough or strong enough to ask like Elizabeth. When you ask as a mother it does not go down well. The local team decided to appoint someone from Disability Action to find out what Elizabeth wanted – they completely dismissed me as the mother and excluded me in terms of whatever I said would improve matters. Everything I said was discounted. Elizabeth was isolated and living in a flat in the community she said “no one knocked on her door”. Then something awful happened to her under this scheme and in addition to this, she had all her possessions stolen and the team allowed her to go missing time and time again through her association with a “friend” she made on a mixed ward. Whilst missing I doubt Elizabeth was taking the drugs – Dr Ann Blake Tracy says even if you skip a drug for one day it can have bad effects. So, I listened to Elizabeth unlike the team, I paid for a companion and was going to advertise for someone else so that she could be in safe company instead of talking to strangers as she was vulnerable. I paid for Elizabeth to see Susan Hepburn, a leading hypnotherapist because the “Personalisation” was providing nothing whatsoever after nearly 6 months. I thought I would find out in 1 hour what she wanted because the team would not listen to me and I had asked and discussed with
her. When this was booked I have never seen so much panic and this I could not understand. Apparently this is not recommended under NICE guidelines yet it is the only thing that worked. Apparently in some areas it is on offer under the NHS – surely this is better than all this drugging.

Elizabeth has been in Cambian for several months but was granted no leave during the time she was at the Bethlem – so in all she has been in hospital a year now and the only leave she has had was just 1 night when I was allowed to bring her home. The temporary psychiatrist had noted that all went well and there was no problem but now the other one is back and in the past leave was denied to me and only escorted visits and then when I complained I could not get through on the telephone as it was always charging and no one did anything to rectify matters I received a letter from the Manager and it was not nice at all. The letter granted me supervised phone calls only once a week at a time when surely the team must have known I could not ring – this was the time I was travelling home from work. I cant tell you how upsetting the whole thing has been and I want to warn others about this kind of treatment I have received at Cambian Healthcare. Elizabeth already had a firm of solicitors and a very good firm and the team set about persuading her to go with a Welsh firm of solicitors. When I asked Elizabeth why she changed the firm she said it was because someone in the team suggested it would be better for her to have a Welsh firm. The IMHA then got involved as advocates and I must admit I did not know much about them but of course this is I believe a Government funded advocacy scheme for patients who are sectioned- they claim to be independent but I have seen how Rethink were at the Bethlem. I think the advocates work very closely with the hospital and team and of course I was completely excluded by the advocates.

The team have excluded me from the beginning – the rest of the family have been treated differently. At Xmas when Elizabeth was brought down she was just left at the grandmother’s house but with me I had two nurses there all the time and they only brought her down for a few hours. This was witnessed by many of my close friends who have known Elizabeth for years. I thought the nurses looked a bit awkward and in no time they had to take her back. Why on earth could this psychiatrist not allow just 1 night with myself and 1 night with the rest of the family – it was after all Xmas. Elizabeth looked visibly upset and my friends were horrified. There were two new friends there who were former patients and they both felt very ill at ease seeing the nurses as this brought back terrible memories of their own personal experience. I tried to make the occasion as happy as I could and knowing I could not have a conversation with my own daughter I invited people who she knew very well and who have known her since she was little.

I have asked the team many times why I have been treated this way – excluded from the Tribunal, excluded from every single meeting, excluded from being kept informed and communicated with in terms of everything in that hospital. I asked “did they not trust me” – to which the reply from the manager was “that is not true” I then said “well what is it then about me” – no one would come out and say yet all the time behind my back no doubt this is well documented in the files which they are desperate I do not see. I asked if they were worried I would tell Elizabeth to stop taking the drugs but again you did not get an answer – I explained that whilst I was not happy I am not a doctor and not qualified to take her off but I wish with all my heart I could send her somewhere else even if it is abroad. I know that 14 mind altering drugs are doing harm to her body. I know of people who are now suffering from long term health problems yet these doctors do not care less about my daughter because they just want to carry on and on and on drugging my daughter and reminding her all the time of her diagnosis. However from my point of view there are several different diagnoses in the file which I have. One expert said she had Aspergers and the rest stick together with Schizophrenia. However where is the proof and the awful thing is that I saw no adverse behaviour all through her teens until a doctor put her on Cipralix and she took herself off this in one go. That was the start of hospital admissions and labelling one after the other.

I know why they do not like me and that is because I have spoken up for my daughter and defended her against them. Yes I dislike the drugs and would like holistic care in preference but I know it is not possible to just come off these drugs and would not recommend or encourage her to do so. I have made that clear to the team yet I have it in writing now that this psychiatrist is accusing me of not acting in my daughter’s best interests by favouring homeopathic remedies rather than anti-psychotic drugs. The team disagree with this. What is wrong in wishing that my daughter can be properly assessment by Dr William Walsh of the Walsh Institute and NO I DID NOT EVER SAY ABOUT HER STOPPING THE DRUGS ALTOGETHER HOWEVER THESE DRUGS ARE CAUSING NO END OF DAMAGE AND NOW I HAVE THE PRIVATE TEST RESULTS. THESE ARE CURRENTLY BEING ANALYSED BY DR WALSH. What mother would not wish their son or daughter to be on the minimal of drugs and have the kind of care available in Tornio, Finland. There the psychiatrists do not enforce drugging for a start and they listen to the patient and INCLUDE the family unlike here. It is upsetting to see in writing the description that the team think you are unfit to be the nearest relative and I suffered no end of bullying by the local team to the point I was in tears. This was done at work and whilst I was at the hairdressers witnessed by other people.

Also it has been pointed out in writing that Elizabeth requested I had no access to the files which was the opposite to the consent given to her previous firm of solicitors and I did not push her to accept this firm – she did this herself without me being present.

The team at Cambian refused the file to my solicitors and I am entitled to a Manager’s meeting but this did not go ahead in the end.

This psychiatrist states Elizabeth as the capacity to make decisions however everything the team at Cambian say Elizabeth is saying the opposite to myself and her sister.

For instance her sister asked was it her idea for the supervised calls and was someone discouraging her to have contact with me, her mother to which Elizabeth replied that it was NOT true she requested supervised calls from me and yes someone was discouraging her ……………………I will leave that to your imagination as matters will be going to court soon.

I got on well with the temporary psychiatrist. He rang me back and was very nice in the way he dealt with me however not once has this psychiatrist ever telephoned me and has gone off on holiday not granting my request for leave before now.

I am very upset because I have a long way to go to see Elizabeth and the team suggested a nice place called Bluestone but it is hardly worth us going there. By the time we get down we will have to book in for one hotel and this is a couple of hours journey away on top of a 3 and a half hour journey from London depending on the traffic. So not only is it expensive for us to go all the way to Wales but we are granted by this psychiatrist at Cambian very little time and my younger daughter I understand tried to telephone to get this extended – so by depriving me with contact to see my daughter they are also depriving her sister.

The worst thing that this team have done is on her Birthday in February the team brought Elizabeth down to see the rest of the family and I do not know if it was them who said DONT TELL YOUR MOTHER. Even if they all hate me this is surely wrong and not the thing I would have expected from a hospital who have won awards for Best Care Provider.

The psychiatrist is playing on confidentiality and capacity in her decisions to deprive me from reasonable contact with my daughter and we were deprived of having her at Xmas. How come this private hospital can act this way whereas at local level human rights are taken into account.

I am most concerned at hearing that they keep people a long time at Cambian. I have heard this can be as long as 3 years – bearing in mind a section can be renewed constantly for up to 9 years surely this is so very wrong when a patient is of no risk to society. However the drugs make someone very disabled and that is what they have done to my daughter. The longer she is kept in hospital the more disabled as far as I am concerned.

The assessment by Dr Walsh is going ahead based on private test results.

The Tribunal has been delayed because of the fact the team have said “she has not consented to seeing the independent doctor”. However, Elizabeth is not at all happy being on a section and who can blame her. Once again I as a mother support my daughter in coming off the section. I would have been happy for her to remain voluntarily but if a doctor is saying things that are not nice about you behind your back perhaps this is not the best environment for Elizabeth to get well.

I have been down to see the Head Office of Cambian which is near to where I spend most of my time. What a beautiful location on the waterfront and in magnificent grounds. Elizabeth would like it here. The office looks more like a luxury hotel and I have found out who I should deal with at this Head Office. The Chief Executive, a Mr Asaria did not get around to returning my calls and I spoke briefly to a psychiatrist there in the evening. It was a pleasant conversation but I pointed out that it was not nice the way I have been treated and that I was sad that only 1 night was given as it was not possible to book for Bluestone National Park.

I really thought that the care under the private sector would be better. I am so bitterly disappointed.

My daughter is miles away from home and I am now worried for her – it is not a nice environment and when a patient is advised not to have much contact – this is more like a religious cult in my opinion.

Yes I have been outspoken and not everyone will agree – I can understand why more people do not do this.

Speaking the truth about what is going on under the current care system has caused me no end of stress. Whilst none of this has affected my mental state of health it is affecting my physical health.

It is so hurtful to be excluded from a team because they have read a past file and a doctor who has never met m e before has formed an opinion.

Worst still when asked to guarantee that the supervised phone calls etc will not reoccur I wish to share with you this:

It is stated that Cambian cannot make promises or assurances about the fact that unsupervised telephone calls and visits will continue in the future.

I went to the Carers UK Conference and got up to speak and never thought I would have the confidence – I have nothing to hide as a mother but I have stood up for my daughter’s rights by listening to her. The team have tried to turn her against me and deny contact. The court case has been drawn out longer than it should have been.

All I want is for my daughter to be free and happy but with the right level of care. I want to be able to keep in touch with my daughter as she is a long way from home. I want to be included and not treated like a criminal like Cambian have treated me.

“I will call the Police on them Mum, you are still my Mum” – I believe the entire team want to get rid of me as the mother. I have had every right to complain and not any of the complaints have been dealt with properly. The PHSO have shut down my case, the Local Government Ombudsman have also shut down the case. The CQC give ratings that are highly inaccurate and I met David Behan at the Carers UK Conference and also The Rt Hon Norman Lamb. Both spoke about changes in care so that families where possible can be included and not excluded and I do not know how they are going to implement this as from what I can see I think strict guidelines need to be put in place and a new system of ratings as there are vulnerable people involved here.

I would like to see Elizabeth out from hospital but I have quite a battle on my hands. I wish there were more therapeutic communities as I think this could be the answer. I think that patients some of them like to help others and Elizabeth was like this – always looking after someone weaker on the ward. So there are many patients locked away who are not at risk to the public but because there is not suitable care in the community they are kept locked away at huge expense to the public and something needs to be done about the whole system.

4 times it has taken me to get consent for leave and the team suggested Bluestone National Park but when I booked it was not possible just for 1 night. I tried to get two nights but this has been flatly refused by the team who give no reason whatsoever and try and make out it is my daughter’s wish.

Here is a list of things, some of which I have highlighted in my email to Cambian today:

1. Excluded from the beginning unlike the rest of the family.

2. Referral made to my “past behaviour” – this means that there must be bad things written in the file about me – the psychiatrist has never met me before and had judged me on what has been written about me and thus I have been excluded from every single meeting unlike the rest of the family.

3. Local solicitor – a very good firm that Elizabeth appointed herself and without me being present replaced. Someone in the team apparently suggested she would be better off with a Welsh firm. “Mum, I do not know why I have got all these letters from Welsh solicitors” I then said – did you wish to change your solicitor to which she said that someone but she could not say who suggested it would be better as she is now in Wales. It is notable that consent was given to view parts of the medical files to the previous solicitor ie the very basic of information

4. First visit to Cambian led to a small room – friend present. Elizabeth was brought down to see us. We were not taken around the hospital – we were confined to a small visitor’s room only and for a very short time. Tried to find out about the forthcoming Tribunal for Elizabeth but the member of staff made out he knew nothing of this but I was later to find out that the rest of the family knew about it.
5. The Tribunal went ahead without my knowledge – her father was present and someone from Enfield Mental Health – the Tribunal failed of course and was no doubt destined to fail! I wondered if she had any representation for her Tribunal.

6. Second visit took place. Someone was late in coming and we were told to leave and come back the next day – this was the occasion where the nurse stood over us all the time which I found absolutely intimidating and my friend was absolutely appalled by this. It was my Birthday and we only had time to say hello and goodbye because someone else was late. We then came back the next day briefly before going home.

7. Solicitors appointed and having listened to Elizabeth who was not happy on the section, I felt strongly that everything to do with her care has been shocking and appalling. The care had failed locally and one drug after another pushed at my poor daughter. I have witnessed her suffering on one drug after another and seen that the teams could not care less – she is just another number to them. The team do not care less about my daughter and they do not care less about what damage they do to the family. So I felt a bit better having got solicitors appointed as the last time I was unprepared and suffered about 2 days of bullying and harassment by the legal teams at Enfield Mental Health Social Services – they even sent me the court papers for displacement of me as Nearest Relative giving just 1 day notice to me at work followed by call after call after call – anyone else behaving in this manner would be arrested for harassment. The calls continued after work when they did not get an immediate answer so not only did my work colleagues witness all this but other people at my hairdressers. I could not find a solicitor in such short notice and had to back down and then they slapped on a Section 3. This time I was ready whilst she was at Cambian – I had solicitors and I later got told they were again trying to replace me as the Nearest Relative – I think this is because they wanted someone else in the family who happened to live in a different area. Perhaps this meant that they could just wash their hands as clearly this is a case they all wish to be rid of as well as rid of me as the Nearest Relative.

8. As the Nearest Relative I have the right to attend a Manager’s Hearing. Cambian flatly refused the file to my solicitors. They were desperate for me not to see the files however whilst I have not requested the files I have the right to see what has been written about me under the Data Protection Act. I can guarantee my name is like a piece of mud – I have some of the files so I know that a team can get away with writing whatever they like to the point of libel. Noone else can get away with such things but it would appear that the team think they are above the law. It is no wonder why some of them sit there laughing in the meetings. My solicitors had to call off the meeting.

9. A new psychiatrist was temporarily appointed and he is one of the few psychiatrists that have made the effort to communicate and even though he may not have agreed with my wishes for holistic care, he was very polite and courteous and listened to me. I presented him with evidence from the patients I am in touch with of my concerns about Clozapine. I mentioned why I was upset about the section because the National Psychosis Unit had caused the psychosis by the reduction too steeply of Seroquel and then mixing it with Olanzapine. I know all about these drugs thanks to Dr Ann Blake Tracy and I joined her site called the International Drug Awareness Coalition and this even gives you proper advice on how to correctly be reduced off these drugs. I passed this on to the Bethlem but they would not listen and they went against Professor Robin Murray’s written advice of a drug free period of assessment. Professor Murray then tried to distance himself despite the fact he told my daughter that he had one or two contacts – it is appalling that he did not do something to rescue my daughter from this hell on earth place.

10. As I said to David Behan – Chief Executive Officer of the CQC, the Bethlem did not do things properly and therefore why is my daughter on a section on their account. This should be immediately lifted. I told him how appalled I was at seeing bruising all over my daughter’s face. I have not had a satisfactory response about this or even a hint of an apology for the shocking way I was treated myself.

11. I had such high hopes of Cambian but when a doctor does not like you and is pro the previous hospital then what hope do you have ie., “I have heard all about your previous behaviour” . From my experience a team have to follow the advice and guidance of the consultant psychiatrist and that is what is happening at Cambian. So now the temporary consultant psychiatrist has left the other one has returned and the reason I am so upset is that two nights is not too much to ask. If Elizabeth was not feeling too good then I would bring her back immediately but to think that most of our time will be spent travelling and I wanted to book spa treatments and make it nice for her. I am so bitter towards this hospital Cambian that have supposedly won Best Care Provider 2012 and have associated themselves with Ruby Wax and Roger Black which I have seen on their website.

12. So I have just passed the message to my younger daughter that she cannot see her sister for more than just a very short time and she was naturally very upset. We do not visit that often because of the distance and I feel this is most unreasonable. I told my solicitors all about this and then I tried to contact the Chief Executive of Cambian whose offices are very near to where I spend most of my time.

13. “I will have them arrested, Mum – you are still my Mum” “I have to watch my reputation” “it is very strict here – you have to do what you are told” “don’t embarrass me Mum otherwise this will get back to me.” When I could not get through on the phone as it was forever charging in their office I asked my daughter “is anyone in the team recommending you do not have contact with me – “yes Mum but I cannot say who – I’ve got to go now” “Mum, the drugs stop me from thinking clearly – I feel dizzy and have to hold onto the walls” – Her sister asked “did you wish for my Mum to have supervised calls only” – her reply was “no I did not”.

Now the Manager of Cambian has said that it is my daughter’s wish that she only sees us for 1 night. I would dispute this as well – this is not what she has been saying to myself or her sister.

At Xmas Elizabeth was brought down for a very short time escorted by two nurses. I tried to do a little party – you cannot have a private conversation with two nurses listening to every word you say and that was deliberate. I have to say the nurses were nice and looked a bit awkward as I happen to know the rest of the family were allowed to be on with Elizabeth.

So we were all deprived as a family by the consultant psychiatrist and team of Cambian to have my daughter just for 1 night and then she could have spent 1 night with the rest of the family. My daughter was deprived being with her family because of the team.

Then on her Birthday shortly after Xmas I did not know it had been arranged to bring her down but my younger daughter had been put on the spot ” don’t tell your mother” How awful is this. No doubt they will try and say “it is her wish”

So, under the temporary psychiatrist I put in a request that for the first time could she be allowed out without an escort unsupervised and this psychiatrist allowed it. I collected her with my younger daughter. We took her to see the hotel where we stayed. We took her on the Brechen Mountain Railway and other places of interest including having nice meals out together and then we brought her home just for 1 night. However when the rest of the family got to find out the grandparents wanted to have her over and that meant I had little time with her. The next morning staff came to pick her up.

On each occasion I have had my daughter there has been no problems. I feel I am being treated like a criminal and to think I was training to go into the police at one time.

I have tried to reassure the team that although I do not agree with the drugging of my daughter there is nothing I can do – it is heartbreaking because I know that her health has deteriorated having had private tests done. This team will do nothing to reduce her off the drugs prescribed by the Bethlem.

There is nothing I can do as a mother except watch them destroy my daughter’s long term health by 800mg a day and one of these drugs is being given off label. They do not work as Elizabeth can remember shocking things.

Some people may think that it is best not to complain then you will not get treated this way however I would disagree because how on earth are things ever going to change for the better unless you do speak up. I am just one mother that the team hate and they have ganged up – there is no inclusion or understanding of how I feel.

The law is failing to protect the weak and vulnerable. There needs to be something done as the complaints procedures are dismissive and there should be a system where individual complaints are looked at properly. I have every reason to be upset and am right to complain about the care as many shocking things have happened to my daughter and no one has even said “sorry”. It is no wonder she has gone downhill – it is not only the healthcare I am talking about here but the residential care in the community and there is a lack of decent care available.

I like the sound of a therapeutic community – I do not wish for Elizabeth to remain in hospital forever and especially under a team who treat you like you are nothing and I think it is very very sad that Cambian will not give 1 extra night bearing in mind the long distance of driving we have to do and the fact that previous visit was successful. Of course the Chief Executive of Cambian could not be bothered to ring me back today.

Last of all, the Tribunal is an important occasion whereby a patient can get off a section. I already know having found out from the rest of the family that Cambian want to keep her for about 18 months but why cant she be voluntary and have the holistic care programme backed by a nutrition and proper assessment by Dr William Walsh of the Walsh Institute especially in light of the shocking evidence I now have seen.

The tribunal and legal process has already been drawn out for longer than necessary on the basis that Elizabeth has not agreed when in fact YES SHE HAD AGREED. I pointed out to the team that everything she is telling them she is telling us the opposite.

I am getting increasingly concerned for my daughter’s wellbeing. It is distressing for her to be pulled in two directions and that is what Cambian are doing. Like a religious cult they do not seem to want for her to enjoy time with her mother who they see as someone who is bad and not fit to be a mother. The reason they see this is that they wrongly think I will tell her to stop taking the drugs. This cannot be done – I am not a doctor qualified to reduce her. I know it is possible but the appalling thing is in the UK the whole care system is cruel and inhumane – something should be done about it as no attention is paid to the long term health of the patients on these drugs and there is question about my daughter’s diagnosis. She was not given the promised drug free period so this in my opinion is in question – she has about 5 diagnoses and the latest “Chronic Treatment Resistant” I wish I could just take her away from the UK and go and live in Finland in a place called Tornio. It is not stigma that worries me as I am proud of my daughter – associate my shame towards the rotten care on offer of enforced drugging in the UK and to think this is allowed to go on. Where are the voices of churches? There are patients of all nationalities and religions under the care system forced to take drugs. What are the religions of the world doing about this? What is the Government going to do to improve matters and provide alternative centres. Perhaps someone should go out to Finland or better still let me take my daughter over there so that she can get well again under their humane and unique care as we have nothing over here.

The only hope I have got is if Chy Sawel can be set up and similar places.

It was a struggle to get consent for Elizabeth to spend time with myself and my younger daughter. It is as though the team do not want me anywhere near my own daughter and certainly they have tried to influence her, so I have heard. The team at Cambian have had great influence to the point that they imposed strict restrictions against me but those restrictions did not work as with the supervised phone calls, Elizabeth was constantly texting me which was probably something the team did not know about. She was the one – not me who was contacting me as there is no way I would have phoned at the time and day dictated by the consultant psychiatrist of Cambian when I could not in any case because the time was when I travel home from work. It was an extremely nasty situation and must have been upsetting for Elizabeth but then a new psychiatrist cam to temporarily work for Cambian and he was very nice and even bothered to phone me. The previous psychiatrist is now back and it has taken several attempts to gain permission for Elizabeth’s forthcoming leave and then Cambian suggested Bluestone National Park and this sounds wonderful to me and very much what I myself had in mind. No mention was made of how long she would be allowed to stay with us and I assumed on this occasion she would be allowed out a little bit longer but it would appear I am wrong. I queried this with the team as I could see having contacted Bluestone that 2 nights were mentioned – when I asked if I could be allowed to have her for two nights I got a short email stating that the team had given consent for just 1 night. It will take us about three and a half hours to drive to Wales depending on traffic and then a further 1.5 – 2 hrs to Bluestone so nearly all our time will be in the car driving. It is sad that the team are depriving Elizabeth of just a little bit more time as I would have liked to book the spa treatments and take her out in the fresh air to see the beautiful scenery. It is sad that the team at Cambian do not take into consideration the distance we are travelling for a start and the fact we hardly see Elizabeth and I have not broken the news to her sister who will be extremely upset as she was hoping to spend more time with Elizabeth – before we know it, it will be time to go back and go home again.

I have written to Cambian stating that we cannot make a booking at Bluestone for just 1 night as I have enquired. Now I have to look for somewhere else and this place would have been ideal.

I have also asked in my email how long Cambian intend to keep my daughter for and the reason for their strict controls against me having contact both in the past and present time. I presume they think I will try to influence her to stop taking the drugs but I would not do this despite my personal feelings against them I would keep them to myself. I know she is on an extremely dangerous drug and her life would be at risk if she was to attempt to take herself off this chemical. I have tried to reassure the team in responding that I am not a doctor and therefore am not qualified to do this sort of thing – my time spent with Elizabeth would be pleasant and no mention of drugs but I do know that Elizabeth is upset at being on a section and I think it is appalling she has been sectioned when the Maudsley made such a huge mistake causing the psychosis and this could well have been done deliberately just so she got put on Clozapine – this is their chosen drug and they receive funding for this – I was told “its all about Clozapine here” by the lead nurse.

Anyway, I do hope that Cambian will reconsider – Elizabeth will have a lovely time with us – she has missed out on so much of her life and the awful thing is she sometimes comments on this.

Elizabeth is in a lovely area but unfortunately a hospital is no place to get well and my concern is that she gets enough support in the community. The hospital care does not fit the description I read and I hoped for the very best for my daughter when the care failed time and time again locally. I thought Cambian had peer support/patient involvement but all I can see is rigid and strict control more so than even the Bethlem but I am going back to before she got put on the Clozapine.

I understand that Enfield Social Services are currently in the process of reviewing her care yet I never get to hear from any of these social services team. They are keen to distance themselves or try and make out they do not know of what is going on – I happen to know that they have attended meetings at Cambian so they must know what is going on and I thought it was extremely devious of them to try and replace me a second time. I may not have been so lucky but now I have solicitors acting for me and that is a very good thing in the circumstances.

There is still no date for the Tribunal arranged.

I would like to see Elizabeth out of hospital and with much more support. I am thinking of buying her a place to live and employing a live in carer like I did for my father. I have also seen a very very good “community” care centre and I like the description of this very much.

I shall write tomorrow if I get a response like I hope – just 1 more night – surely this is not too much to ask of the team. It is wrong of the team to punish and take things out on my daughter and my younger daughter just because they do not like me – the only excuse is that they do not trust me and their fears are unfounded – it is wrong of them to assume like this and to guess when they are totally wrong. It is wrong of a team to form a bad opinion amongst themselves when they do not know me yet staff have been to my home when I was deprived of having Elizabeth last Xmas. Instead of working together and communicating effectively which would have meant I would never have been outspoken let alone have a blog, the team have stuck together but what they are doing is harmful to my daughter.

“There’s no place like home, Mum” – however if Elizabeth was to come home I would have to give up my job and be at home every day – this also would not be great as
how would Elizabeth ever manage on her own and become independent that way and so it is not as if I am possessive towards her as I think it is most important she is in the right environment and London is not a good environment as it is noisy and not peaceful.

I shall know hopefully tomorrow if my wish has been granted or not.

http://t.co/wztADHgJAu

After 4 requests and about to give up hope I finally got the go ahead from Cambian that I can have leave for Elizabeth coming up soon. I really thought they would say no so I decided to look for their head office as it is nearby to where I spend most of my time and I was stunned at these offices. The offices are plush and modern in a quiet and peaceful location where they are building a new development next door. I thought that this new development would be very nice for Elizabeth because of its peaceful location and you could forget you were even in London. However, unfortunately this is all in my dreams! If only Elizabeth could live somewhere like this with a live in carer surrounded by decent people. What is for sure she needs a quiet peaceful location but she is far away from home and family. I am in an awkward situation as my younger daughter likes living in London and does not want me to move but I have thought about this of course.

I do not know what is going to happen now but I am uneasy about her being in a place where things have got back to me that are not nice that are being said behind my back.

I have also had the test results which I cannot detail but these results are not brilliant at all. My first concern was to pass these on to Dr Walsh and Dr ……………………who is going to represent her in court.

Anyway the leave has been agreed so I am planning on where to take her where it is nice and peaceful.

I have h ad a nice day today in Ipswich visiting friends who have known Elizabeth a long time back and she once babysat for them.

My daughter has been made disabled by these drugs – what are the drugs companies doing – I have contacted some of them and they all make themselves out to be caring when they do NOTHING. Just like the tobacco companies they should be made to do something for the victims of the pharmaceutical industry like my daughter classed as being Treatment Resistant. The drugs manufacturing companies are not caring in my opinion otherwise they would pay for holistic care centres or give some money in grants towards these being set up with them having NO INVOLVEMENT. If they were involved it would be like a situation with Rethink and the Maudsley where they have psychiatrists on their Board and are manipulated. I am suspicious when these advocates are attached to hospitals and believe that again choice is not available. For instance I picked a former patient to be the new advocate when I could see what was going on.

Anyway I believe in peer support and there are many patients who wish to help others and could do this better than any professionals because they would have a complete understanding of how awful it is to be on an acute ward.

So I believe there should be therapeutic centres offering housing and peer support and holistic care in a peaceful surround with professional doctors trained by Dr Walsh himself and given guidance by Dr Ann Blake Tracy on any reductions in drugs. Nothing is done correctly in the UK that is for sure – when a leading hospital takes someone off 150mg of Seroquel and mixes this with Olanzapine this would cause psychosis in ANYONE. I have spoken directly with Mr Behan of the CQC about this shocking care. I hope both Mr Lamb and Mr Behan have had a chance to look at my website which is completely honest in describing the abuse that goes on under the current care system and this is similar to the whistleblowers of the NHS who I am in total admiration of. It is very brave of them to speak out as I can see how you are treated and I am a carer and Nearest Relative. It must be even worse if you are a member of staff that is for sure.

There are many currently under section who are NOT a risk to the public but because there is NO decent care in the community and it simply does not work. I have detailed the alternatives and the choice should be given to patients as some may prefer to make a fresh start outside of their area.

Also social services need to be looked at very closely after the way I have been treated.

It is only another week before I go and visit Elizabeth and I have something very nice planned for that weekend.

Elizabeth telephoned me yesterday – she was very excited on the telephone at the prospect of myself and her younger sister going to visit and we are undecided on what to do and where to go. Once again she excitedly spoke and suggested several places and said she would like to be with us in the hotel but all depends on the team governed by the previous psychiatrist and I will not know until Tuesday.  The other psychiatrist used to give a quicker decision and was extremely nice in the way he telephoned me back even though he is busy.  I respected this treatment as this is rare – normally you just get ignored or someone like a nurse will ring instead. It is right that a doctor should communicate and if there is any problems speak to you.  It is wrong that someone thinks you are beneath communicating with and may have personal reasons for this which are used against you even when that professional has never met you and is going by things written previously in the files which are all too often totally inaccurate in my opinion having read many of them.

It is natural that I as her mother would wish to take Elizabeth somewhere very nice and make the most of the time together as we do not go down that often and most of the time she is stuck unfairly in hospital when she is no risk to the public or herself but just needs the support which I have found in the form of an Agency called Rojene.  Rojene supply care in your own home 24 hours and bearing in mind everything that has gone wrong when Elizabeth was placed in a scheme locally I need to make sure as the Nearest Relative that my daughter has proper support.  I did this for my own father under Direct Payments.  Whoever thought of this scheme should be highly commended.  It is easy to maintain the paperwork and if you are unfamiliar with working out the wages you can employ a firm to do this.  All the Local Authority needs to do is provide the funding and this they did enabling my father to live an active life up to the age of 90 when he died.  I was able to find wonderful carers and this worked well in conjunction with an agency and Crossroads as well as Age Concern.  I am anxious that Elizabeth mixes in with the right company and whilst I realise she is limited to what she can do – she should be encouraged to some something even if only for a few hours a day.  You cannot expect anything more when someone is on a huge dosage of anti-psychotic drugs but whatever job is given to Elizabeth should be one where it is therapeutic such as working with animals for instance and helping others.  This may not appeal to everyone however, with a bit of incentive I believe it is possible with the right level of support given.  This level of support was not given at local level and now Elizabeth is in a much more peaceful area where the lifestyle is much nicer I think she is in the right place.  Also I have noted that there is a new law in Wales for holistic care.  Mr Hunt is supposed to be interested in this and so why is it that a team are going against what the Health Secretary himself would like to see in place.  Well for a start you need to look at the care in the community as it depends on how long someone has been in hospital as to how they are going to cope.  Elizabeth did not cope and was not happy in the scheme and I cannot say what happened there but I can quite understand.  It is like banging your head together.  Noone wants to communicate and what is wrong is the law as the team at Cambian have constantly tried to say the opposite of what Elizabeth is telling myself, her sister and other friends and members of the family.  This calls into question everything that is going on –  there is no way on earth that Elizabeth would have replaced a perfectly good firm of solicitors I later found out that it was suggested by the team it would be best if she had a Welsh firm and that could be because she had given consent to her previous solicitors at local level that I could be informed of certain things.  I am not interested in seeing the whole content of the file – I already know what could be written about me is not very nice at all –  I have seen past files and have been told by someone in this team about my “past behaviour”  – Surely I as a mother should be concerned then if this is affecting or restricting any rights of my daughter to see her family –  all I was ever interested in was the level of drugs which is probably exactly what they did not wish for me to know however I already knew what drugs she was on as I got to find out and I am  not happy that an off label drug is beign given for weight loss at 500mg.  I was also not happy that other things were given on top initially such as Lorazepam to calm her down when she was distressed.  What is the damage being done to my daughter on these drugs and surely as I have heard from other patients Clozapine is highly sedatory and it is very easy for someone weakened on these drugs to feel bullied and harassed by a team who want nothing but control.

“I WILL CALL THE POLICE ON THEM, MUM YOU ARE STILL MY MUM”

“I HAVE TO WATCH MY REPUTATION”     “IT IS VERY STRICT HERE, MUM”   “THEY MAKE YOU TAKE THE DRUGS”

The law is doing nothing to protect the patients who can tell what a patient is really thinking and then some can feel threatened into having to agree just like Elizabeth.

Well, I have every right to be upset as a mother – not only have damaging things been said behind my back by a team of experts, some of whom have not even met me but they are causing untold damage to my daughter’s wellbeing by pushing and pulling her in two directions instead of communicating properly directly with me.  Then this action further divides the family and causes much damage.

This is all against what the Rt Hon Norman Lamb was saying at the Carers UK Conference and also Mr David Behan gave a wonderful speech and seemed extremely concerned when I spoke to him personally about my feelings. Both of them talked about changes for parents and carers to be included and not excluded and by bringing things out in the open maybe certain situations can be resolved.  Nothing should be kept secret and it is wrong to have secret courts as the public have a right to know what is going on and where money is being wasted.

It was good to get up and speak in front of everyone and I was glad I did it –  I feel I am speaking for many people who are too afraid yet are not happy.  It is a bit like the Whistleblowers of the NHS well the same applies to private sector too as you can all see –  It seems that the team are unclear on aspects of the law in my opinion.  To think a team does not seem to know about my rights as the Nearest Relative – this is where investigations and information should be given to everyone from Social Services to the NHS and the private sector. It is not only the staff being bullied but carers and parents too if they dare to disagree with the team and I believe that such bullying is occurring at the top – senior level.  I have been to several AGM of NHS trusts and I have enjoyed these dos as you get to meet the people who otherwise will not be available to speak on the telephone – are at never ending meetings and then you get an unsatisfactory response to your letter or else nothing at all.  I intend to go back to some of these excellent dos and some have a party atmosphere.  If they can organise this then they are capable or organising decent care – it is not literature that is needed but getting out there to speak to parents/carers groups and most important the patients face to face should be allowed to have their say and what about those like my daughter who  have no say at all –  that is why I am writing this blog as it is right that everything is investigated and changes made especially to the law.

I can tell you that you cannot go by awards of anything like this.  There needs to be a proper rating system by the NHS and that should be based on what the patients say anonymously and also how carers like myself are being treated.  If there are complaints that a carer is bring treated like a criminal and a patient not being listened to by anyone from doctor to social services then the whole system needs to be looked at.

Many organisations that are supposed to be independent are domineered by teams as I have seen and in addition to choice in psychiatrist there also needs to be choice in advocates and I am suspicious of those who are funded –  certainly I cannot find anyone who would be my advocate or mediator –  I even offered to pay Hafal and they could not accept this offer.  Where is there an advocate for me that is truly independent?  All I want is to ensure that my daughter is being treated fairly which I do not think she is but then I must patiently wait now for a meeting before the consultant psychiatrist gives permission.  The team have to do what the consultant psychiatrist says and if the consultant psychiatrist says there is a risk or someone is not well enough then that person is denied contact by telephone, visits, leave etc etc.  What when a consultant psychiatrist does not like you and refers to your past behaviour then someone like myself is in trouble that is for sure.

I appreciate I cannot jump to conclusions but I want everyone to know that Elizabeth has texted me in an excited way and telephoned me witnessed by other people to say she is looking forward to going to the Theme Park.    I hope the psychiatrist does not turn around and say “the team have decided that she is not well enough”   Well from the text messages I can prove it is what Elizabeth wants and have witnesses too.

It is very tiring to have to challenge and defend yourself when I have lots of other things to do.   I need some notice to plan where to book for the nice weekend.  I have asked 3 times for Cambian’s consent and I will not know until Tuesday and then I get a text from my daughter to say about the overnight stay – what on earth is their problem.   Anyway I shall be able to share that view with everyone very shortly.

The good thing is that I have noticed their head office is in London and I also have looked up the names of those in charge –  if no decision is given next week I shall pop down to their Head Office in person.

Very soon I shall be documenting the DSM 5.  Diagnostic Statistical Manual and this is getting bigger every single year with more and more diagnoses and there is divided opinion.  Well I have offered to speak myself at this conference.  Of course I know that this is something that will be laughed upon when they get my request but I am the last person on earth these experts would ever wish to listen to.  It is evident that they do not wish to listen to anyone but themselves so I await to  hear from the organisers of this huge event.   People in the UK may think that this DSM 5 does not apply to them but this is not true!  I have proof of this in the form of interviews on a DVD.

At least at Carers UK, experts from many organisations from Ministers to Social Services/NHS were invited to speak and to join in –  I believe that the DSM 5 Conference should be organised in the same way as Carers UK so that the experts can  hear about the adverse effects of various treatments and see what they can do to help put things right for the victims of the pharmaceutical industry like my daughter.

I have visualised what care I want and have spoken to Mr Lamb and Mr Behan who both agree changes need to be made.  Holistic care is the way forward with minimal amount of drugs given and therapeutic remedies as do not forget many people under the mental health have suffered abuse and they should not have been given the drugs in the first place like my daughter and for those who have been labelled, Dr Walsh may have the correct solution and a fresh look needs to be made regarding the research of Peter Bennett of Rehealth who proved that nutrition could play a major role in recovery of someone and this is the research that my daughter has agreed to take part in.

Dr Walsh is looking for volunteers as doctors and I would like to see as many as possible sign up for this training in November and I have handed the leaflet of Chy Sawel to both Mr Lamb and Mr Behan who should look into this care further as I am anxious to have this set up as soon as possible.

It is shocking that there is no decent alternative care centre in the whole of the UK  –  Now is the time for such change.

My daughter has sent me numerous text messages asking when I will be coming down to see her.

I did not see Elizabeth over the Bank Holiday however after the next Bank Holiday I have requested to visit Elizabeth and take her out as she has texted me asking to go to a Theme Park.  There are plenty of nice places to visit in Wales you are spoilt for choice but  am still waiting for consent from the Team governed now by the previous psychiatrist and have no idea whether such leave will be granted.   I have requested three times and have not had an answer.  A response requires a meeting apparently and this is taking place next week where Elizabeth will be quizzed by the team as to whether she really wants to go out with  me or not.  It does not matter if you have written proof by way of text message – a team can say the opposite and deny you the contact with your son or daughter as they see fit.  It is easy for them to do this under the Mental Capacit Act and of course a doctor can greatly influence a patient by putting them in such a position where they HAVE to agree and I do not believe the advocates are truly independent as from what I have seen at the Bethlem, Rethink were constantly used in such a way by the consultant psychiatrist and never once did they attend a daunting meeting involving about 9 professionals which I know that Elizabeth hated.  A patient can be made to feel terrible if a team gang up and they can be shown up in front of other patients.

So this is what my daughter said.

First of all she texted me back as I have requested her to come and stay with myself and younger daughter in a hotel for 1 night and this makes me feel that someone in the team has been speaking to her.     I do not believe the team at Cambian are at all happy about this one night in a hotel and I do not know what their problem is.  I would not wish to take Elizabeth out with me at all if I felt she was that unstable but I have no doubts that she is fine to come out but cannot walk far as she constantly feels dizzy and that is the effect of the Clozapine and high level of drugs she is on with Metformine being given by at 500mg.    To begin with even more drugs were being given but I had to complain about this when I heard Lorazepam was also given on top.

So, I have not received an answer from Cambian and will know next week what the outcome of my request is.  If the answer is “No” then my younger daughter will be devasted and extremely upset.  Already the family has been torn apart as I have documented by this team.

It will be interesting to see what happens next week as this psychiatrist is the one who has NEVER granted me any contact with my daughter apart from supervised/escorted visits. I do not think that this psychiatrist likes me at all from the way she has spoken to me and the things I have heard.  I hope that the personal feelings of this doctor do not get in the way of granting my daughter time to spend with me by trying to say that she has changed her mind.  Elizabeth has already indicated at the strict control there is under Cambian and certain members of the team have not been able to hide their feelings by the way they have reacted I feel not everyone agrees but are forced to agree.  The previous psychiatrist was wonderful and really nice –  this previous psychiatrist was just temporary and allowed me time with my daughter and always communicated effectively and personally rang me.   I much appreciated this as I have felt totally excluded by the team who have only communicated with the rest of the family and seem not to like me at all and I am not imagining things one bit in this respect.

Every visit, every contact with me so far Elizabeth has enjoyed and when I see my daughter I take her out for meals and go out of my way to make it nice.  I am not able to go down that often because of the distance.

The last visit not long ago was a home visit for the first time and this went well apart from the burglary at my house and Elizabeth was so happy to see her cat who she misses.   However, the rest of the family who were allowed to see Elizabeth on her Birthday whereas I was not, wanted to see her also and I could have said no to this to be fair.  I know that Elizabeth likes going to her grandmas and did not stand in her way but it meant that I had virtually no time with  my daughter and one night is not enough to travel all that way by car only to be collected the next morning by the team.  Still it was better than nothing and thanks to the previous psychiatrist.

I wish to share with you some disturbing comments:

“I have to watch my reputation, Mum”

“Please don’t cause me any trouble as things get back to me”

I get the picture!    so – if I disagree with the team in any way they go and speak to my daughter and tell what I have said or what I am doing.    It is terrible that a team is involving her and repeating anything that could be used against me to my daughter.  Elizabeth has shown signs of fear of going against the team who have control over my daughter.    This is what is going on at Cambian and not just Cambian but the NHS as well in places like the Bethlem.  All this and complete lack of communication is against what Norman Lamb and David Behan were saying as they were talking about inclusion of families not exclusion as this is a common thing in terms of confidentiality and capacity that a team can play on.   So if Norman Lamb and David Behan of the CQC state this then they should do something about it.

As a parent and carer I have every right to say what I think as I have listened to my daughter but then a team can turn around and say that you are interfering in the care.   It is not good when a patient is afraid to speak and tell people what is being said – this patient is made to protect the professionals  but Elizabeth has confided in her sister disturbing things against me that was evident to me all along in that it was not encouraged for her  to have contact with me and that was clearly the case as communication was definitely one sided and not only I felt that but legal professionals too.   When I have asked the Manager of Cambian “don’t you trust me”  I have not had an honest answer –  at one time this manager looked down at the floor and I have picked up on some body language of certain members of the team similar to this like when they brought Elizabeth down for just 3 hours and took her away despite the fact it was Xmas and she would have enjoyed Xmas to spend not only with me for one night but with the rest of the family.  Everyone I had invited to the little party was shocked and horrified by this treatment as it is inhumane.  Anyway I have the impression that within a team there are members that do not really agree but are forced to go along with whatever the Consultant Psychiatrist says or does.

So “I have to watch my reputation, Mum”  – I hope that my daughter is not made to stand out in front of other patients just because I happen to disagree with the whole system but still I have never suggested that Elizabeth stops taking the drugs and I suspect that is the main reason because they have not got a clue how to properly reduce anyone in any case.  As I am not a doctor I could not do this however if only there was decent care as I would like to see her on the minimal of drugs.  I wonder how that doctor would feel if this was a member of her family but Elizabeth is just another number to her and no one can possibly care as much as I do.    I would like to see a proper centre and care of a humane nature set up with proper assessments and holistic care such as Chy Sawel but that does not mean that I suggest she or anyone else stops taking the drugs.   This can only be done under the guidance of a professional doctor in the correct way described by Dr Ann Blake Tracy and combined with treatment by Dr William Walsh.    This cannot be done and I am not even a doctor to suggest this so what is this team panicking about –  it would seem that they suffer from a problem of anxiety!  What they completely fail is to put themselves in my position – how would they react in my shoes.  However, everyone should question that if someone can still remember shocking things that have happened that despite 14 mind altering drugs they have failed to erase such things then my question is –  what point is there in carrying on with such a treatment as the drugs are expensive and also not one of these doctors stops for a minute to think about the long term health of my daughter.  I know people who are deeply affected and then they become in need of care from the NHS that is already being drained of resources.  I am well aware that these drugs are highly dangerous and the risks are not properly explained.  You cannot just come off them but it is a complete lie to say you have to be on them for the rest of your life that is rubbish.   Like with any drug withdrawal has to be done very carefully and very very slowly –  there is no help in the UK at all but Dr Ann Blake Tracy is correct as I have seen the effects of drug withdrawal and NOT ONCE HAVE I SAID TO STOP TAKING THE DRUGS.   However help needs to be given for patients who are suffering terrible side effects – after all the leaflets say you should be able to turn to your doctor but when a patient does do this they just get ignored or get given more and more drugs or a different drug.

I must admit that at first I begged for my daughter to go to the private sector as I genuinely felt the care was failing my daughter at local level but I did not expect to be treated like a criminal by this team.

I got up to speak in front of lots of professionals at the Carers UK Conference and I told them how damaging it is to a family to be excluded.

“I will call the police on them, Mum – you are still my Mum”  –  these words speak for themselves and then you get the preferred family members telling someone who is very ill and involving the younger sister to keep quiet about a visit as only they were included and I was excluded.  I think this is very sad and that is why I would like a change and choices given to mental  health patients.  If a patient is held for 2 years in  hospital then how can they be expected to just get on with things in the community.   When a patient is drugged up –  the professionals job is to try and get them to do things to make themselves independent and this involves persuasion and to some point bullying.  It is not a case of being lazy on the patient’s part as how do these professionals or anyone come to that know how badly the drugs may be making that person feel.  Elizabeth suffered from lethargy and she was not eating well or living well but if someone is showing signs of decline to the point a team feel that there is any risk to themselves then that team will stay away leaving that person to decline to the point that further hospital admission is necessary or else the patient begs to go back on the ward in desperation.

I had a long chat with David Behan of the CQC – it was brilliant going to the Carers UK Conference.  Mr Behan seemed very interested in what I  had to say.  I also managed to hand a leaflet on my website to be passed to Norman Lamb and I hope I get that reply from the Minister’s Office as Carers UK contacted me to say that they wished to get in touch.

I feel so strongly about a change in the care system and I am sure that there are many members of very good nursing staff that would also like to see change but they are powerless to do anything because at the top there is intimidation.  However I am not intimidated by any of these powerful people and feel that it is the right thing to do to speak out if you wish to see wonderful changes and an end to a culture of bullying.

I think it is great that there is a blog by Mental Health Cop –  in relation to articles in the Evening Standard I do not believe that the Police should be completely blamed although I have to say that many patients do not have much good to say for them.   The patients should really be looking at the law –  the law is wrong – it is the law that fails to protect the patients and shelters professionals who distort the truth and reality.

Today I am meeting with a group of wonderful former patients.  None of them have had a good experience on the wards and yet they wish to help others and I admire this very much.  The group wish for Open Dialogue and this group could be helping by way of peer support.  My daughter would often respond more to someone as a “friend” rather than a bossy controlling member of staff – unfortunately this was what was lacking in  her original care.   The group also wish to bring to the public’s attention what is going on –  the fact is that many people are affected by mental health problems and personally I am not ashamed to bring this out in the open.  I also have plenty of positive things to say about such patients who are extremely brave enough to stand up for their rights.

Today no doubt we will be discussing the DSM 5 as there is a conference coming up shortly in London.

Normally on Bank Holiday weekends I would be planning some nice days out and things to do with Elizabeth but this weekend I will be spending mostly alone.  Others are working in the family and Elizabeth is miles away so that means booking in a hotel and driving a fair distance.   I am planning to go down towards the end of May but that is if the psychiatrist allows my visit and of course they can turn around and deny such contact but I wish for everyone to know that Elizabeth has been in touch with me and wishes to go to a theme park.  I have received text messages from her whilst at work but no one in the team has got back to me to confirm this and I have once again written but no reply has been received.    I feel sorry for Elizabeth as she will not see anyone from the family as far as I am aware and will no doubt be stuck on the ward – at weekends such as this usually there are usually staff shortages and staff are not able to take patients out – I wish I could employ someone but unfortunately Elizabeth is on a Section 3 which the team have all renewed for another six months behind my back.    At a time when supposedly Elizabeth had wanted supervised phone calls I have received text after text message which I can prove.  In addition she has told her sister that this is not true at all but she has also said that she feels forced and afraid to say no to the team.    In fact her very words are  “I will call the Police on them – you are still my Mum”.  This shows how damaging things can be when a team gang up against you and someone who is very ill is pulled in two directions and the consequences on the entire family.   It would appear I am not alone in being excluded with the excuse of capacity and confidentiality used by various teams so I heard at the Carers UK Conference.

Elizabeth would have enjoyed days out with me and all the nice things but to go down to Wales is not cheap and I cannot do this every week.  It is lovely though to get out of London occasionaly and I find the environment much nicer than in London and people are friendly there. London is not the best of places for m y daughter to recover as she now suffers from panic attacks and anxiety.

Whilst I am obviously against the drugs – I have seen my daughter become completely disabled to the point she could no longer do basic tasks, she has been experimented on so very much and force drugged by not only the team at Cambian but Bethlem, I would not ever advise her to stop taking them as I am not qualified and coming off a drug you need specialist help and there is nothing in the UK at present.    All I have done is listen to her and I have stuck up for her – to the team she is just another number but to me she is my daughter and watching her suffer with the most terrible side effects due to the drugs various doctors have pushed at her has been heartbreaking.   All along she has wanted the whole family included and yet the team say otherwise.  It is harmful to pull someone in two directions and to say nasty things about me behind my back and that is what has been going on and has got back to me via her sister.  I have also seen the content of past files as well to see what goes on and the team are well and truly protected by the law it would seem but much money is being wasted with the legal processes being unnecessarily drawn out by the team and I am sure that the public would be very interested in and this, particularly when the NHS accident/emergency departments and maternity wards are being closed.  The mental health is draining the system because at local level the care is all about drugs and very little else.  The acute wards are frightening places to be and in my opinion should only be used short term.  If something better was on offer like Chy Sawel then at least patients who keep returning to the ward time and time again will have some choice.

At  Carers UK Conference there was overwhelming support for carers in respect of the involvement of families more and a fresh look at the issues surrounding confidentiality to include, not exclude parents.    I realise in some cases this cannot be done however there are many decent parents who have not abused their sons/daughters that should be included to work closely with the team.  It is damaging for a patient to be influenced against the family and to think that in some cases professionals go by notes alone which may be inaccurate from a previous team instead of meeting with that person and keeping an open mind.  Obviously the professionals are mainly pro drugs and this is where I disagree and would like to see proper assessments first by Dr Walsh and then more humane care put in place with a special look at diet/nutrition/underlying health problems.  There are no grounds to justify a ban or the treatment I have received  because I am not  someone who would attempt to take my daughter off the drugs myself as I am not qualified to do so but I do not want my daughter’s life to be halved or for her to suffer long term health problems and so this is why I wish the correct facilities to be set up in the UK to give patients choice and to respect their human rights and that is why I would like to see Chy Sawel set up/Root and Branch.   There is nothing right now in the UK.  Chy Sawel/Dr Walsh  wish to train about 12 doctors in November and I believe that the Government should send someone along to this conference to see for themselves what they can do to help.   Last time my younger daughter got up to speak and she was given the drugs age 13 which had a terrible effect on her.     The drugs should not be given to children or to the elderly like my father.  They should not be given at all if a proper assessment has not been carried out in my opinion.