Over the weekend I received this letter: 

The letter says: 

 

“We are very sorry that you have been waiting a considerable time since your assessment for your 1:1 therapy. 

We realise that the waiting times must be distressing and difficult and wanted to assure you that we are currently doing everything we can to address this and explain the reasons why the wait is currently longer than it ought to be.

We have had an increase in the demand for services and unfortunately like a number of services in the NHS we are struggling to meet this demand. Staffing levels remain the same and our team are doing all that they can to ensure that the therapy on offer is of a continued high standard and in keeping with the recommended national guidelines. 

You have been assessed and are waiting for: 

xxx 

We are working hard to reduce the waiting times which are currently approximately 18 months to 2 years for treatment. 

What happens next? 

We will endeavour to continue to make regular contact with you via letter and assure you that you are still on our waiting list. 

In the meantime, we have a provided you with a number of services that you are able to access whilst you continue to wait. 

Once again please be assured that we are doing all we can, and we sincerely apologise for the length of your wait and thank you for your continued patience. 

If you require any further information with regard to your place on the waiting list and approximate waiting times, you can contact our service by telephone on xxx or send an email to xxx stating whether you wish or do not wish to access support and confirm your name.” 

 

When I saw the envelope (clearly an NHS brown envelope) I was excited. I thought I’d finally got a date for treatment. Then I read what you have just seen and the 19 different places they recommend for interim support. 

I documented how difficult I found it to get a place on the waiting list in this report. That report was published in December 2022. 

Part of me thinks it’s great they have sent this; it’s reassuring that I’m not lost on a database or have been deleted. But then I wonder about how bad things have gotten where this letter has been produced. 

What a sorry position for the NHS to be in. 

The wait continues…