Starting A Campaign

[albaqwerty]

was wondering the best way to go about this?

Write to your MP would be fine if you had faith in him/her.

How does one go about gathering signatures so that if enough signed a petition it would hopefully reach the UK government and get them to discuss it at least?

Am fed up with platitudes and 'money is being ploughed in to things', it's not getting ploughed in quick enough.

(I'm talking about mental health issues btw)

[albaqwerty]

It's just general Wolfie.

Some time back there was a News item where a family in Cornwall had to travel over 300 miles (I think) to visit family member as there were no 'facilities' in Cornwall.
Made me quite upset then and other news haasn't helped lessen my anger/upset about this. :-(

[ummmm]

Albs....many many many mentally ill people don't even realise they're mentally ill.

[wolf63]

It is such a complicated problem. They want to save money so they consider centralising departments or closing down units.

My out-patient clinic started off being based in the main psychiatric hospital, became a community health clinic based in a building in town and is now it is sited in the maternity building of the PRI. I have managed to fall off the recall list for appointments so I don't know what the new set up is like.

[wolf63]

ummmm - I think that many of them are on AB

[albaqwerty]

that is very true.

One of my neighbours was telling me that he has only recently been diagnosed as bi-polar (he's 59) and he was wondering how long has he been bi-polar - no-one could give him an answer.

[albaqwerty]

'that is very true' applies to both Ummm's post and Wolfies :-D

[Sqad]

You can plough as much money into Psychiatry and Mental Health as you like, but without good Psychiatrists, then it will be to little avail.
Psychiatry is not a popular specialty for "budding" specialists and never has been.
I think that Psychiatry in the UK has the largest percentage of foreign doctors as Consultants.........
Psychiatry was the least desirable specialty for UK applicants. A number of studies have explored the reasons for this including the perceptions that it lacks evidence-based treatments ( not sure whether medication works) the prognosis of patients is poor, and the lack of respect from other medical colleagues.

[trt]

# (he's 59) and he was wondering how long has he been bi-polar - no-one could give him an answer.#

I think a lot of the faults is down to the cuts.
The number of police in the UK is at its lowest level for 30 years, cuts again.

[albaqwerty]

thanks sqad. x
Never thought about how Psychiatry was seen amongst fellow professionals.
I know some medics don't rate homeopathy either.
(well, I don't know them personally obviously)

I've seen every episode of Frasier, I wonder if I could qualify?

(I know, flippant remark, sorry)

[Peter Pedant]

Blimey I have more respect for psychiatrists !

Magdi Yaccoub ( good english name there huh ) was a heart surgeon - does that mean that cardiac surgery was unpopular ?

Richard Mac Millan was the only neurosurgeon who had played on Top of the Pops ( trombone in the Barron Knights to be exact ) - does that mean that all neurosurgeons are frivolous ?

Good luck in your campaign

[Sqad]

P.P.......what drivel.
But it is entertaining.

[Sqad]

P.S Yacoub has one "C."

[albaqwerty]

I think I'll hitch a lift on other established sites/campaigns.
Interesting to know about starting one tho.
Many thanks for various bits of info and for sharing your thoughts/experiences