Home > Publications > Selected Cases > Selected Investigations Completed December 2002March 2003 > Case no. E2109/00-01
Complaint against South Essex Partnership NHS Trust
Summary of Case
Mr W complained that he had waited 5 and a half months to be referred to a clinical psychologist. He was first referred to the community mental health team (CMHT) by a psychiatrist on 10 April. Mr W was already having counselling from another agency when the community psychiatric nurse (CPN) assessed him, so the CPN discharged him. On 7 June, however, these sessions abruptly ceased and the counsellor informed the psychiatrist and the CMHT. No action was taken until Mr W’s GP re-referred him, at which point, the CMHT started the assessment process afresh. Mr W was unhappy with this and on 22 August, requested a referral to a clinical psychologist. On 5 September, the psychiatrist made this referral and an appointment was arranged for 20 October. Whilst the Ombudsman was critical of the lack of action in responding to the counsellor’s letter, she considered that the time taken from Mr W’s request to making the referral to the clinical psychologist on 5 September represented a very good level of service. She upheld the complaint only to the extent of the shortcomings she had identified.
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