Forward Thinking Birmingham Within Oaklands Centre - Birmingham

River B.

I personally would give this place 0 stars for Oaklands centre & Crisis Team

Crisis team got me arrested!

In regards to the crisis team when they visited you they would always forget to note down your concerns often leading to a he or she said situation.There is no communication from the doctor at Oaklands nor the Crisis team.

The crisis team showed me no care for my wellbeing and sometimes made me feel worse by telling me I was not doing enough to get better.The crisis team did not come to my aid when in crisis and often left to ambulance or police to aid me instead. Because the crisis team failed to help me I often reached out to charities instead.
...and the charities called 999 ambulance or police.

The Oaklands and the crisis team did not support me via any follow ups knowing I came back from A&E on multiple occasions due to suicide attempts.

My care was disorganised... When the doctor at A&E put in place a certain number of home visits for the week the crisis team would immediately change it the next day meaning I got less home visits than what was recommended by A&E. Due to multiple A&E visits this led to frustration from the police's team seeing me as a regular as they were called out to 136 under the mental health act.

In regards to my home visits the crisis team never told me what time they were visiting me.The crisis team only informed me what days they were coming. I ended up waiting all day just to see them. And shockingly I only got a 10 minute chat or sometimes the crisis team didn't turn up leaving me in tears.

The crisis team & oaklands never thought to refer me to counselling/therapy. My parents were often asking the oaklands centre to provide therapy for me.

When having a major crisis, the crisis team never vouched for me, nor informed the first aid responders that I was depressed or suicidal. In fact I learnt that the crisis team's doctor behind my back was telling first aid responders like ambulance and police that I was an attention seeker. EUPD has a bad reputation.

I often was told by the crisis team I was supposed to be distracting myself to cope with my problems rather than having therapy for my problems. I called the crisis team at 8:30 am and the crisis line told me they couldn't support me during my crisis because they didn't start work till 9 am and then they told me to call back once it was 9am. It was 8:30 am and I was at a train station feeling suicidal.

The Crisis team on multiple occasions forgot to prescribe my medication leaving me without medication for days. Also my medication was not being monitored as I often had to inform them when my medication was running out. With having a history of suicide it was shocking how the crisis team didn't know how much medication they were dispensing which lead me having more medication than I was supposed to have!

I also learned by accident that the crisis team told the police I was a troublemaker. I believe the crisis team said this to West Midlands Police because they were questioned as to why I am in need of regular 136's.

So again, when I only attempted suicide as a vulnerable, distraught and depressed young girl the police decided twice to arrest me for wasting police's time. When this was investigated by West Midlands police they found I was not calling 999 police or ambulance nor was I wasting the police's time.

Oaklands centre kept referring me back to the crisis team and the crisis team kept trying to refer me back to the oaklands centre in Birmingham. It was very distressing when they did this.

The crisis team ruined my good character!

Oaklands and the crisis team often warned me that the police could fine you, for wasting police's time. Well, I am warning you as an innocent person traumatised by the crisis team/forward thinking Birmingham and oaklands that the POLICE can arrest you!

So beware.

Oaklands centre is bad.
The crisis team is the worst of them all.

Catherine M.

OAKLANDS, SELLY OAK - couldnt get a new doctor/one that didnt get let go after one meeting/a new appointment for a year and a half, and they had the gall to threaten to terminate me and leave me to the care of my GP (where they cant prescribe me certain meds) if i didnt respond in 14 days because i missed ONE appointment that was sent in the post last minute. not exactly what someone with metal health issues wants to be left to figure out, especially severe social anxiety where i cant make contact with them so easily. caused me to spiral but maybe its for the better they let me go and i can be free of that dump

Ammarah H.

A young relative of mine with severe anxiety attended this centre for psychiatric review. A terrible experience for her. I thought the planning for her care was very poor ( the waiting time was so long by the time she reached she had a month until she was too old for the service and would be discharged after the assessment was completed). The psychiatric assessment itself seemingly incredibly insensitive and unproductive. She came out feeling much, much worse- do staff actually appreciate what their patients are referred for and do they understand trauma informed care? Very disappointing. Also incredibly concerning that no action is taken to review the service given the poor ratings...?

The G. V.

Have been with this team for a couple of years or so, have been with 2 ADHD services, originally had a bad time with wait times and receptionists, was transfered over to the oaklands team, they seem to be improving their service from what I can see, receptionist who has been there for 6 years (Elaine I think her name was) is always very kind and understanding of my situations and is happy to help with any issues or needs, Lovely lady, Thank you for your continuous help Elaine!

A M.

One of the support workers called Laiba I think her name was had told me about 6 or so months ago that she will be dropping off my meds. I was waiting for her and she gave me a call to say she’s in her lunch break So I waited for her and she never showed up. Haven’t heard from her since and they won’t give me my meds. It’s really worsened my mental state and they said they couldn’t give me my meds till I have another review now.

Daniel J.

Absolutely terrible the reception are useless no help at all theyre rude smug people also cant stand them. new staff is recommended

April K.

Was diagnosed with bpd back in april 2023 by a psychiatrist.

since I have been issued multiple medication reviews because I have to phone multiple individuals just to ensure my medication is correct.

They have arranged appointments in person which I have no knowledge of or way of getting there.

It is really hard to get a hold of the drs over the phone or get through to the duty nurse .

I've unfortunately had to come to the point where I am considering coming off all my meds because of the inconsistency of it and  the long periods without it resulting in rapid decilines and highs of my mental health.
Which isn't good for my lifestyle as I am a fulltime student who doesnt have the time to sacrifice in order to phone multiple people just to ensure I get my correct emergency medication.

Leading on from this I have also have asked for any therapy support which could help me the Dr's keep saying they have referred me and have been waiting for councillors for nearly a whole year now I also keep asking for updates on when I might be contacted by anyone in terms of therapy but get no answer.
It saddens me how much people don't care about supporting people with mental health anymore we are just diagnosed and put on meds and told to deal with it ourselves and the drs we have keep being assigned then leaving the next minute this is a really unstable and unwelcoming environment where I for one do not feel well supported or safe in any way.

Louise T.

I am tired of this service. I have been a patient here for about 2 years now, and in the last year they have failed me countless times with my prescription.

The first time it happened a few months ago, I called a week in advance for a prescription (which they advise) and a week later when I was out of medication they hadn't even processed it yet. I had to get an emergency prescription from my GP. This has happened not once but 4 times now in a row. The most recent time I've asked for a prescription, I had 2 weeks worth of medication and called 2 weeks in advance to get it sorted. I called a week later to see if it was ready and it still wasn't ready but I was told it would be ready for pick up on Monday as I told them it was urgent as my medication would run out then. This is time critical medication, if I am off this medication my mood can take a down turn easily. Rang up on Monday was told it was ready, but when I went to pick it up it wasn't ready. So now I am without medication and have no way of getting it. Oaklands has negatively affected my mental health more than it has helped me. This is ridiculous and I'm done with this service.