Rotherham: Mental health crisis team not helpful for some, survey finds

Some of the respondents said they were not happy with the after care and support

A mental health crisis service has not been "helpful" for some patients who also claimed staff were not "caring", a survey has found.

The Rotherham Doncaster and South Humber NHS Foundation Trust's service operates a 24-hour phone line for those in a mental health crisis.

The survey, from Rotherham Healthwatch, also found a number of patients were not referred to other NHS services.

The trust said it would work to implement improvements to the service.

Rotherham Healthwatch said of the 17 respondents to its survey 70% "'did not find the crisis service helpful when they initially tried to access them".

According to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, half of those who took part in the survey felt the crisis team were not "caring, compassionate or understanding".

The organisation, which gathers the views of people on health and social care services in the area, said one patient was left "anxiously waiting, scared and embarrassed".

It also found 64% of respondents were not referred to any other relevant NHS team.

The report said that while some people had had a "fantastic experience", there were "many that are not satisfied with the service they have received, particularly with after-care and support."

The watchdog made four recommendations, which include providing "adequate" aftercare, ensuring staff are "compassionate and understanding", and ensuring the phone is answered within an "adequate time period".

Toby Lewis, the trust's chief executive, said they accepted the "recommendations in full" and would be "working to make sure they are implemented in 2024."