Woman from Northampton called NHS crisis line...and had to wait two days to see a doctor

The woman, who the Chronicle & Echo has agreed not to name, has post-traumatic stress disorder following the death of her husband.

Feeling low earlier this month, she called the community crisis line run by the NHS. But after getting passed to several different offices, she spoke to nobody who could help.

When she finally got the medication she was seeking, it was three days later... following a scheduled appointment with a psychiatrist that had been in the diary six weeks.

The woman, who wants to keep her identity secret, said: “They were absolutely useless.

“I was given the card after I was in hospital following an overdose. I was told if ever you’re in trouble, call them and they will help.

“The problem I had was I was keep having flashbacks and couldn’t get any sleep. I was exhausted and needed some sleeping tablets and other medication.

“What I got was sent round the houses to several offices and admin departments.

“If I was about to cause myself harm, I may not still be here.”

A spokeswoman for NHS Northamptonshire Healthcare said it was unable to comment on cases in detail because of patient confidentiality.

But she was able to say that the woman was given the advice the NHS believes she needed.