Single Point Of Access — Mental Health Services in Sheffield, England

Abominable. No excuse whatsoever. Funding cuts or not, mentally ill people should be treated with kindness and respect. The first point of access staff are pointless and clueless, and you can't get to the clinicians who actually know their stuff. The service needs a massive overhaul, and only highly qualified doctors and CPNs should be assessing patients. Professionalism isn't a word certain staff understand, within services. Absolutely disgraceful. 😡

Came to these guys back in 2018 for help with my anxiety and depression. Was immediately discharged for being "too self aware of my problem" to get further help because I was transparent with my struggles. Absolutely appaling service and do not care about neurodivergent patients

In 2022 I was firstly referred to them and I am still waiting they cancelled me and I get referrerd again still gets cancelled, nobody is helping me. I’m feeling suicidal what do I do kill myself to be heard?

Even after a referral in crisis can’t get access to this place or any support. Maybe the help is good when they actually accept you, but I have been fobbed off by them numerous times which has left me in a worse position. Also not accessible service for disabled people.

I wish I could put zero stars as I've come away from my appointment with them full of confusion and feel like I've been medically gaslit and then handed back to my GP after a two year wait following my initial mental health crisis referral. The diagnosis they gave me on the day was Bipolar but later changed this to mixed Depression and Anxiety which I have already been diagnosed with and medicated for, for the past 3 years. All of the questions asked were very directed at a diagnosis they had already decided and felt impersonal, rushed and overall lazy. I didn't come away with any extra information or support and the after care was nothing. Just let go and medication increased to the point I felt almost catatonic and couldn't think for myself or even realise when people were talking to me.

I felt the need to write a review as everyone is always quick to speak poorly of these services, but never praise. Yes the services are overstretched, blame the government and funding. So yes, the waiting times are long and you have to sometimes keep pushing to be heard. Also when you call them they assess the priority of your call, they have to do this because of the sheer numbers of calls that they get, they need to try and get to those greatest in need first. I know everyone thinks their own need is the greatest, but unfortunately that’s not realistic. I was in crisis when I dealt with SPA the first time, and then the second time when I had been discharged from home treatment and had not been picked up by other services yet. I cannot fault them. I am very aware they can’t just “fix” me, but they helped with the things I really needed help with, meds being one of them, and chasing up referrals to others services, and general support. They listened to me, I felt heard, and they did as much as they could within their capabilities. Yes it was frustrating at times, but once things were in motion and I also was doing a lot to help myself, things started to improve. If it wasn’t for SPA, home treatment, and the mental health support in general, I would not be here now typing this review. So please stop giving these people a hard time. Imagine going to work and dealing with the amount of pressure and responsibility that they have to, as every single person who contacts them are in great need of help, and then you try your best, and all you get is constant abuse and being put down. It’s ironic that people writing the bad reviews are people with mental health issues, they should know more than anyone that it’s important to be kind. Maybe you don’t feel they deserve 5 stars, but so many 1’s? Absolutely not. From the people I have dealt with directly I would give them 5/5, for the service as a whole due to delays and funding, etc, I would say 3-4 / 5.

Absolutely terrible I have about 4 or 5 different referrals. Had 1 referral for months. If you call for help or in a mental crisis only like a receptionist speaks to you. They are not mental health trained at all. They just tell you to wait to be contacted.

Handed mood diary in by hand almost month ago. Heard nothing. I am not getting help I need or correct meds

My partners referral was accepted by SPA around 5-6 weeks ago. All she has had since them is a promise for a call back (which never happened). When calling the 0114 number, nobody answers. Reception are doing their job and passing on info from calls, but its the "professional" that's deciding to forget about us.

I've been waiting for OT for 6 months. I called many times... No OT = no plan of therapy.