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Thursday 26 September 2013

Starfish

“While wandering a deserted beach at dawn, stagnant in my work, I saw a man in the distance bending and throwing as he walked the endless stretch toward me. As he came near, I could see that he was throwing starfish, abandoned on the sand by the tide, back into the sea. When he was close enough I asked him why he was working so hard at this strange task. He said that the sun would dry the starfish and they would die. I said to him that I thought he was foolish. there were thousands of starfish on miles and miles of beach. One man alone could never make a difference. He smiled as he picked up the next starfish. Hurling it far into the sea he said, "It makes a difference for this one." I abandoned my writing and spent the morning throwing starfish.” 
― Loren Eiseley


So we threw a few starfish back, one of them being my Mother in Scotland.  Here are the two blogs relating to her case.  We didn't just throw the starfish back willy nilly.  We threw her back with a complaint letter and a lot of crossed fingers.

http://charlotteschuntering.blogspot.co.uk/2013/09/on-back-foot.html
http://charlotteschuntering.blogspot.co.uk/2013/09/pride-and-principles-in-nhs.html

(Quick translation for Mark:

CAMHs - Child and Adolescent Mental Health)

This particular one can be found here: CAMHS, Arrol Park, Ayr.  The Consultant Psychiatrist, who seems to subscribe to refusing a second opinion, after a meeting with the child in 2011 and not since, one Dr J.G., the "magical thinker" Dr M.B., Clinical Psychologist, and latterly, Dr C.DC, Clinical Psychologist.

Just to say it worked and the wee child is now getting a proper assessment in a wonderful facility with total parental access by visit or phone (even at 3 am) - even a nurse to sit with her though the night to help with the nightmares, her own room, her own toys, her stuff and proper care.  She is going to be safe, cared for, treated and her whole family are going to be involved in all this.

The tragic (and neglectful? lacking in Duty of Care?) thing is that it has taken nearly 3 years to get this second opinion.  What price do you put on a child's life these days?

Needless to say, the CAMHs team talked for the first hour of the meeting and then left.  Perhaps they knew they were wrong (?), but after putting A and her family through such torment (3 Child Protection hearings?  Really?) to bolster their ego and try and "prove" themselves right with their feathers and beads theories and their Bunkum & Woo practices, they could have had the courtesy to listen to what the experts actually said.  I pity any other family, if their child has an eating disorder, who is under the care of these people.

So many thanks to so many people:

Firstly, A, for letting me share her story and letting me boss her around mercilessly over this.

The Social Services - closing the Child Protection Files - whoopee
The Head teacher at H's school
The Ed Psych (there are some good psychs out there!)

Eva Musby, parent advocate and author for on-going on-the-ground support.
The UK FEAST team (and welcoming our newest whizz, MF!)
The Mod Squad
I have to say that I believe that the Chairman and Chief Executive of NHS Ayrshire and Arran really pulled their fingers out behind the scene on this one, although I can't confirm that.
The fabulous parents on the Around the Dinner Table forum who have contributed and supported throughout this ordeal and the wonderful Laura for giving us the forum and F.E.A.S.T. in the first place.
My wonderful friend (no, you will never convince me on Family Systems Therapy!) who helped with the internal workings the CAMHs system

Interestingly, it appears that other people have been trying to erase themselves from the Internet since the complaint letter landed on desks.  

To the team at Yorkhill, Glasgow, you are getting one of the loveliest, bravest, most determined families in your care and, for once, I am really happy to leave them there with you.

O - almost forgot, to the heartless school nurse, DH, who covered up H's mouth, when weighing her, because she couldn't bear to look at her teeth, er.....You're on the list.

Along with East Sussex CAMHs team....

5 comments:

  1. WHOOOOOOTTTTTTTT

    Is that loud enough for you? off I go again
    WHOOOOOOOOOOT

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  2. ECHOOOOOOOOO ECHOOOOOOOOOOOOOO from all around the planet :-)

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  3. Now you've made me cry all over again.

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  4. We need a starfish brigade!

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  5. Absolutely fantastic! I shudder when I think of all the harm done over the three years, but am cheering the future forward progress!

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