c.c. Danny Lougue West Lothian Council Ms Margaret Walker
c.c. The Scotsman [email protected]
c.c. Evening News
c.c. Complaints Officer, St John’s
c.c. Rt Hon Alan Milburn M.P Health Minister.
c.c. Dr Liam Fox M.P. Shadow Health Minister
c.c. Health Service Ombudsman for Scotland
c.c. Rt Hon Robin Cook M.P. 20th June 2002
Dear Sir / Madam,
I write to draw your attention to the lack of provision for the mentally ill in West Lothian. This is not just a personal opinion but of many people who, like myself suffer from mental illness.
When I first became ill I was admitted to Bangour Village Hospital, where the standard of care was excellent. However the powers that be decided to incorporate the psychiatric wards into St John’s Hospital in Livingston. I was fortunate to remain with the same consultant until he moved on last year.
I have had several admissions to ward 16 of St John’s over the years and have found recently that the standard of care is nothing but abyssmal. I have a very close friend who is so unwell and so desperate for help that she and her husband are now considering private care, with all the expenses this entails.
The situation is nothing short of disgraceful. There is a Patient’s Charter, a copy of which is pinned up in the ward, but is never adhered to. The aftercare which I receive is thanks to other patients telling me of its existence
I feel very strongly that someone in a position of responsibility needs to take a long hard look at the lack of provision for the mentally ill in this country and at the growing number of suicides each year.
Yours sincerely,
Margaret Walker MA (Hons)