Your advice taken

Well, I certainly would be. How inconsiderate and unthinking! Time for another polite heel dig!

Agree annie. Sounds totally inappropriate unless the ward has changed in nature. Keep digging those heels if you need to and please don’t give up. You’re worth it. It’s interesting now I think about this. The appointment is about your freedom. Seeing you in a locked ward certainly isn’t. Wishing you well.

How can people be so heartless Anniebach - I am lost for words

Stick out for something better Annie it seems wrong to me that this is the only place he could see you, perhaps they are making it difficult so you will say no.

An absolute nightmare,coming surely from people dealing with such sensitive issues,a disgrace.

I commend you for digging your heels in Anniebach and I just hope you have enough resources left within you to truly tell them what you think,demanding what you really need.

Could it be a misunderstanding Anniebach, if this is where he usually sees his patients? If you now have means of contacting them short-circuiting your GP surgery could you ring and explain your agoraphobia? You’d think there would be a small room somewhere else. The ward is prob locked to prevent unauthorised people going in rather than people going out, but it really doesn’t sound the right place for you.

Oh dear Annie my heart goes out to you - do 'dig your heels' again and insist on an alternative arrangement
Wishing you all the luck in the world

If you know the psychiatrists name and were he is based, could you ring his medical secretary and explain your situation and that it would be impossible for you to be in a locked ward. It might be possible for him to see you in a location more suitable with your agoraphobia.

Wishing you well ???

Are you certain things haven't changed since your last visit, Annie? My Dd has been supporting a friend in a locked MH unit and it isn't as you describe at all, it's friendly and compassionate and not unlike a hotel.

Small towns are small towns, it's always likely you'll see someone you know, unless you travel further afield which I'm guessing you don't want to do.

Also, I don't think it's a bad thing if your emotions are on display when you see a psychiatrist. It rather emphasises the point that you're in need of help.

I do hope you can find some resolution to this situation, it sounds untenable.

No misunderstand and no he doesn’t hold consultations there,he goes there a couple of times a week to see in patients and it hasn’t changed,

I think it was their way of telling me to zip it ?, now they can say you were offered an appointment , which is true.

A very sad, disappointing, and bloody annoying situation Annie
I have nothing else to add to what's been said

if he is willing to meet you this sounds like progress?

how about your response.... I am able to attend the appointment in a small side room which will be pre booked.

Oh, I see. That's awkward. OldBattys idea sounds a possibility. I suppose they look at it as they've made a concession to you and it's up to you what happens next.

Is there any way we can help you make it possible to attend? Analysing exactly what's deterring you and trying to find a solution?

Over many years you have campaigned for the Labour Party Annie. I am sure you have helped others a good deal.

Is it not now time for you to ask for help from an MP, Councillor or AM? You know you should be entitled to better treatment. Don't be too proud to ask for help.

Obviously Anniebach I am not suggesting you ask Jeremy Corbyn for help.

NO, he will see me in what is unkindly called locally ‘the lock up ward
Well, my first reaction was unprintable
My second is that there will be other rooms in that hospital; can his secretary book one for your appointment? I have found that medical secretaries are usually very helpful and accommodating, far better to speak to them than go via any other route in the hospital.

I second Jalima. It's only uninformed locals who call it the 'lock up ward'. It's a medical establishment which will have secure wards (for the patients security). The consultant will also have an office. Don't let ill informed prejudice get in the way. They are making concessions to accommodate you. Take up the offer. What are you afraid of?!

I am not prejudice. I know our hospital, I know the layout of the wards, I know many of the staff and I know many of the patients . The reason it is referred to as ‘the lock up ward’ is simply because the idiot who named it gave it a two word Welsh name, this is not a Welsh speaking town, . I appreciate they are going out of their way to accomodate me , i will be forever grateful that although he sees patients in the local mental health centre the same days as he visits the lock up ward which is this side of the river and less than half a mile from my home , it is a large house, never been converted since families lived in it , lots of rooms , I am not allowed an appointment there because of the grave sin of being over 65.

I am afraid of seeing old neighbours and two friends who don’t know their families, I am afraid of locked doors. That I will not be able to leave if I need to without someone pressing buttons for me to get out, or will tell me to just relax, take deep breaths and he will not be too long.

I am not yet ready to see the building where my daughter’s body lay and where the P.M was carried out, very silly I know but that’s how it is.

I apologise to all for referring to the ward as the lock up ward. Never meant to hurt or cause distress. Best no more is said,

It is not your term annie and with the best will in the world some people are locked up sometimes to save them from themselves or others from them. I can hardly think this is the best place for you to be seen in view of your feelings of being in a situation you do not have control over. As a claustrophobic I would be hopeless in a room with locked doors. They must be able to sort something out that is better for you and if they can't they don't deserve to be classed as a mental health team as they obviously don think consider the needs of their patients. I do hope something better comes up soon x

I expect they think it will become known if they make a concession for one person in a small town and others won't want to do the 10 mile journey. They have made a compromise, I understand it is very very difficult for you but it is a chance when chances are few and far between. I do hope you can get to see the psychiatrist somehow, surely its not likely you will be faced with all the in patients, although I agree its very sad those who can are only trying to get well.

I'm puzzled why your age is relevant, annie. If you are not allowed something because of your age, isn't that ageism? Perhaps I have misunderstood.

Given your last sentence, it's understandable why you don't want to go there, Annie.

Please, do phone the psychiatrist's secretary and see if there is some way round this.

Its good the psychiatrist has made an effort to accommodate you. try and follow the further advice here Annie and phone his secretary to discuss things in more detail. Hope you get a positive outcome.