The complaints manager deletes my emails unread...

[Lilac]

And that's not all. The PALs and Complaints Dept never seem to answer complaints and I predicted this years ago. I guess I said it then because I kept telling the nurses I was well and I got nowhere.

Also four nurses in 2008 made me strip and shower in front of them and didn't return all my property. I told everyone at the time and since then and it seems to fall on deaf ears.

[Cheesecake]

Hello,
So sorry to hear what you've been through. You said PALS are not answering you. I apologise for asking this but I'm quite new here anyway. Do you mean they're ignoring your phonecalls and emails? Have you spoken directly to someone? I'm not sure what happened to you but if you feel something should be done and it's not then try citizens advice bureau.

[Lilac]

I would like to tell you a little something about the CAB which is in about 2000 I went to them and told them my family were being abusive and they told me to go back to my family.

[merlin12]

If you don't get any satifaction from PALS and your complaint is not being taken seriously and it is health/mh related you can contact I.C.A.S who will take up your case on a formal level they are Independant Complaints and Advocacy Service. They are national.Not sure of number off the top of my head but you can Google it. They have helped me a few times with very good results,they help you write letters make phone calls and go with you to meetings etc. They are brilliant. I have never found PALS useful but maybe i was unlucky too.

Hope this helps MERLIN x

[Girl Interrupted]

Now why isn't it surprising that complaints are now being ignored, PAL's are useless and they work for the very services you're complaining about.

What stage did you get the complaint to and what was the basis of it? To really get the facts straight you to apply for your records and you need to have exhausted complaints process, going via MP to the PHSO to get it stage 3, although it doesn't sound as if your complaint has gone beyond stage 1, but ICAS can help get the complaints process going again.

Have they called you vexatious in any way?

[CBTish]

Just looked up ICAS details they are as follows...

That's the wrong ICAS. For NHS complaints there are three ICAS services covering different parts of the country. There are maps and contact details here (scroll down for the whole of England): http://www.seap.org.uk/icas/icas_office.php

[merlin12]

Sorry didn't mean to mislead. MERLIN

[Losing The Plot]

Don't be sorry Merlin, - you were just being really helpful.

[Lilac]

I have never had a complaint responded to by PALs and last year I wrote to my MP about it. He wrote to the Trust who eventually told him I had written a lot and they had 'read every one'. I wrote back to the MP and said that the Trust had not said they had dealt with the complaint. The MP did not write back.
I have recently read that staff are meant to assist the person complaining. One thing that amazes me is that no audit has revealed that the complaints have not been dealt with.
I had a bad experience with advocates. One told me that 'some women are on rispiridone for life' and the other I saw said that if I moved I had to take the section with me. That was not a positive or helpful experience. Also an advocate approached me on the ward one day and I did ask her what made her think I was mentally sick after all she didn't know me from Adam.

[ramboghettouk]

if you c omplain it'll just be put down to your illness, thats were advocates come in, ssomeone who's sanity has never been under question, now i can't even get an advocate

And these council workers etc know they can use your mental illlness againsy you