Eventually Isn’t Good Enough

Yesterday was hard — for a lot of reasons.

Some time ago, I submitted a formal complaint to the NHS Trust responsible for my aftercare.

The response I received was disappointing. And honestly… I’m not sure why I expected better.

Yesterday, I got a phone call asking why I was dissatisfied with their response.

Where do I even begin?

It’s no secret that inpatient care is more about keeping people out of immediate danger than actually treating their illness.

But here’s what doesn’t get talked about enough:

Discharge is not the end.

People leave hospital still vulnerable. Still unsafe. Still struggling.

That’s why care in the community is vital. Without it, people fall straight back into crisis.

Eventually, I Was Seen

They told me that even though there were delays, I was eventually seen by community mental health services.

Eventually.

It may as well have been:

“Yes, we know you nearly died two more times after discharge — but at least we got to you in the end.”

As if that’s something to be proud of.

As if barely surviving long enough to be noticed counts as a success.

What They Don’t Seem to Understand

The only reason I was seen at all was because my mum fought for me.

She chased the referral.

She asked questions.

She refused to let it go.

If it were left solely to the NHS — if I had no one in my corner — I would have fallen through the cracks.

And my son would be without a mum.

I don’t say that for drama or pity.

I say it because it’s the truth.

And what scares me is knowing I’m not the only one.

There are people out there right now who won’t get the help they need — not because they don’t deserve it, but because the system didn’t see them.

Didn’t listen.

Didn’t act.

It’s Not Just My Story

Every step of the way, I was met with incompetence.

With people who couldn’t (or wouldn’t) do their jobs properly.

With silence. Delays. Excuses. Blame-shifting.

And it very nearly cost me my life.

That isn’t good enough.

We need to talk about this.

We need to keep talking about this — no matter how uncomfortable it makes people.

Because too many of us are slipping through the cracks of a system that’s supposed to keep us safe.

And until things change, those cracks will keep growing.

Still fighting,

What About Now