Post by Deleted on Nov 21, 2008 18:03:09 GMT
Having recently written to the Chief Executive & Medical Director of my local Mental Health Trust. I thought it would be helpful to post up my letter for other people to make use of as a template of sorts.
So feel free to use it to structure your own letters of contact if you think it may be of help.
Craig
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Dear Mr xxxxx,
I wanted to write to you to enquire about services for adults with ADHD within the South West Yorkshire Mental Health Trust. I am in regular contact with the Adult Attention Deficit Disorder group at aadd.org.uk who have informed me that the Trust has just received funding and is recruiting for an adult ADHD specialist service.
I will briefly explain my situation which will clarify my interest in this matter. I am 36 years old and I have struggled all my life with numerous problems which have bewildered me and which have had a seriously detrimental impact on all areas of my life. In recent years, it had become increasingly apparent to me and my wife that there was something very definitely amiss. Having always regarded myself and my family as “colourful” characters (to say the least), I always attributed my eccentric behaviour to be part of a larger family trait. I now strongly suspect that this is the case, but not in the way that I thought. After a particularly turbulent few months, I began a search for answers as to why I am the way I am and why I behave the way I do. I would like to stress that I had never felt the slightest inclination to do this before and the decision to act was a major hurdle for me to overcome mentally.
I began to do some research using the internet in an attempt to shed some light on myself and my situation. I could never have anticipated what I eventually stumbled upon which was a link to a website on Adult Attention Deficit Disorder. I want to say that I am aware of the dangers of self-diagnosis and it is something I have never done. However, after two months of researching and educating myself about ADHD, I feel no longer able to deny what seems to be staring me in the face. I have read so many life stories of people both diagnosed and undiagnosed with ADHD and the parallels with my own life (in the minutest detail) seem undeniable to me. To not mince words, I strongly suspect I have ADHD. My wife is of the same opinion, having been a long-suffering witness to my behaviour over the last twenty years.
In the light of this, I went to see my doctor two weeks ago. He was surprised to see me and informed me that it was my first visit in fourteen years. I talked about the problems I had experienced all my life and I mentioned about adult ADHD. He was sincere and understanding but informed me that there was “nothing for adults” meaning no services for adults with regard to ADHD. He further informed me that out-of area referrals are not carried out for problems to do with mental health. He referred me to the local Community Psychiatric Nurse but I am reluctant to see a professional who is not a specialist in adult ADHD. I do not wish to undermine my GP but I have come to the understanding that the complexities of ADHD can only be fully assessed and diagnosed by a trained specialist in this field.
I would like to ask how soon you expect to have an adult ADHD specialist service in place and where this service will be located. I would like a referral to this new service so that I may be seen by a specialist at the earliest opportunity. I would greatly appreciate your advice on this matter.
Many thanks for taking the time to read this letter. I would also like to express my gratitude to you for being one of the most progressive Trusts in the country with regard to the setting up of an adult ADHD specialist service. In addition, I have sent this letter to the Medical Director of the Trust, Mrs. xxxxx
I look forward to hearing from you,
Yours sincerely,
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I would like to add belatedly, and to their due credit, that my local MHT responded to my letter to them within 3 working days thanking me and saying they would be responding shortly. This gave us hope that my relationship with the Trust, had gotten off to a good start.
So feel free to use it to structure your own letters of contact if you think it may be of help.
Craig
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dear Mr xxxxx,
I wanted to write to you to enquire about services for adults with ADHD within the South West Yorkshire Mental Health Trust. I am in regular contact with the Adult Attention Deficit Disorder group at aadd.org.uk who have informed me that the Trust has just received funding and is recruiting for an adult ADHD specialist service.
I will briefly explain my situation which will clarify my interest in this matter. I am 36 years old and I have struggled all my life with numerous problems which have bewildered me and which have had a seriously detrimental impact on all areas of my life. In recent years, it had become increasingly apparent to me and my wife that there was something very definitely amiss. Having always regarded myself and my family as “colourful” characters (to say the least), I always attributed my eccentric behaviour to be part of a larger family trait. I now strongly suspect that this is the case, but not in the way that I thought. After a particularly turbulent few months, I began a search for answers as to why I am the way I am and why I behave the way I do. I would like to stress that I had never felt the slightest inclination to do this before and the decision to act was a major hurdle for me to overcome mentally.
I began to do some research using the internet in an attempt to shed some light on myself and my situation. I could never have anticipated what I eventually stumbled upon which was a link to a website on Adult Attention Deficit Disorder. I want to say that I am aware of the dangers of self-diagnosis and it is something I have never done. However, after two months of researching and educating myself about ADHD, I feel no longer able to deny what seems to be staring me in the face. I have read so many life stories of people both diagnosed and undiagnosed with ADHD and the parallels with my own life (in the minutest detail) seem undeniable to me. To not mince words, I strongly suspect I have ADHD. My wife is of the same opinion, having been a long-suffering witness to my behaviour over the last twenty years.
In the light of this, I went to see my doctor two weeks ago. He was surprised to see me and informed me that it was my first visit in fourteen years. I talked about the problems I had experienced all my life and I mentioned about adult ADHD. He was sincere and understanding but informed me that there was “nothing for adults” meaning no services for adults with regard to ADHD. He further informed me that out-of area referrals are not carried out for problems to do with mental health. He referred me to the local Community Psychiatric Nurse but I am reluctant to see a professional who is not a specialist in adult ADHD. I do not wish to undermine my GP but I have come to the understanding that the complexities of ADHD can only be fully assessed and diagnosed by a trained specialist in this field.
I would like to ask how soon you expect to have an adult ADHD specialist service in place and where this service will be located. I would like a referral to this new service so that I may be seen by a specialist at the earliest opportunity. I would greatly appreciate your advice on this matter.
Many thanks for taking the time to read this letter. I would also like to express my gratitude to you for being one of the most progressive Trusts in the country with regard to the setting up of an adult ADHD specialist service. In addition, I have sent this letter to the Medical Director of the Trust, Mrs. xxxxx
I look forward to hearing from you,
Yours sincerely,
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I would like to add belatedly, and to their due credit, that my local MHT responded to my letter to them within 3 working days thanking me and saying they would be responding shortly. This gave us hope that my relationship with the Trust, had gotten off to a good start.