Can there be a more glaring illustration of the disparity between physical and mental health, when a victim of the Manchester bombing is subjected to a series of telephone conversations (IAPT) about her distress and it takes 6 months for a face to face consultation to take place. The public are rightly alarmed at the hours it took some of the Emergency services to be able to offer medical help, but it is as nothing compared to the time taken to address the person’s mental health. But there is no outcry about this from either GP’s, MP’s or mental health staff, there is tacit approval of the disparity.
Recently it was the centenary of the 3rd Battle of Ypres, in which my grandfather was killed on October 28th 22017. To my knowledge nobody ever suggested that the ‘shell shocked’ from the conflict should be catered for by telephone.
Rather there were dedicated Hospitals like Craiglockhart in Edinburgh and Moss Side in Liverpool and such Hospitals continued functioning after the 2nd World War. Being face to face with victims is surely the least we can offer.
A thought for Remembrance Sunday ‘A century on, are we really any more respectful?’
Dr Mike Scott