"My son being let down"

About: Children's Specialist Health Services / Child & Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS)

(as a parent/guardian),

I’ve know since my son was 18 months he had ADHD. He was hyperactive, impulsive, no fear of danger, couldn’t concentrate etc. I spoke to the health visitor and they said he was just a typical toddler. Went to nursery and he was constantly on timeouts for behaviour issues. 

He got worse at primary school but he did have positive experiences with his school.  After a consultation with his GP we got the referral to CAHMS and after a lengthy process he finally got his diagnosis. We decided to try no medication and tried natural oils for him daily and different strategies which really helped.
Lockdown hit and it affected him badly so I reached out to the GP after discussing with my son to try the medication route which he thought would be worth trying. We had to open a new case even although he had a diagnosis. We had emails asking if you still wanted seen! We waited almost 2 years then had a phone-call with a charge nurse, and were told we had to go on another list for a psychiatrist -  this was in November. I explained my son was sitting exams, wasn’t coping.
I have rung CAMHS so many times and they tell me they will ring me back and the team co-ordinator never does. Every member of staff tells me they are leaving or they are waiting on a new psychiatrist to start. My son has been forgotten about, he has failed his prelims as he can’t concentrate.  He hasn’t had the treatment he so needed and we are over 2 years down the line. My heart is broken for him and I’m doing this so more people shout out. The service we have received isn’t good enough and time isn’t something we had on our side I think

We have been patient but I’m speaking out as nobody is listening and these kids need our voices. 

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Responses

Response from Trudi Marshall, North Lanarkshire Health & Social Care Partnership 2 years ago
Trudi Marshall
North Lanarkshire Health & Social Care Partnership
Submitted on 10/02/2023 at 17:24
Published on Care Opinion on 11/02/2023 at 09:53


picture of Trudi Marshall

Dear Wishaw mum,

I’m so sorry to read about you and your son’s experience with our CAMHS service and the difficulties you’ve had in making contact with the teams to try and progress.

Would it be possible for you to make contact with the service directly, with your son’s consent, and we can try to arrange something for you.

You can reach them by email: laura.jack@lanarkshire.scot.nhs.uk or by phone: 07929 792 104.

Many Thanks

Trudi

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