Oxford Complex Needs Service - Oxford

Abigail Muir

After waiting over a month since I had seen the physician i was asking a receptionist about the letter i should receive. This is as my doctors are asking for it.
I have never spoken to such a rude and condescending receptionist in my life. I understand people have bad days but this man was flat out rude.
He ‘wrote an email’ whilst on the phone to me and would not let me explain my situation. He then stated i did not see a physician i saw a ‘therapist’ which is contrary to the letter i received about the assessment.
When i stated how i have been struggling with my mental health and the doctors wont helo me until i get this letter he proceeded to tell me ‘the only thing that COULD help your condition is this therapy’. He then was asking me if i had contacted local mental health services and i said they had not helped he uninterestedly said ‘how’.
He had no regard for my wellbeing or my mental health. He stated he had worked there for 25 years but continued to be completely rude even after he made me cry.
Absolutely disgusting service. The opposite of what you would expect from a mental health institution.
I am still waiting for the letter to prove I had the meeting and it is coming up to two months. I understand paperwork takes time but 2 months is rediculous. Especially since AMT (Adult mental health team) sends their assement results out sooner.
I recommend never speaking to a receptionist here. Especially if you are in a vulnerable way.
On the brightside the physician was lovely. If it wasnt for her I would give 0 stars.

Holly Creusot

I am really surprised to see all these negative reviews for Complex Needs. Being in the therapeutic community for two years to treat several different personality disorders has undoubtedly changed my life.

Yes, it’s incredibly hard work and at times extremely painful.

Yes, the therapists push you hard to see things that aren’t what you think you want to see.

Yes, the waiting list is long and some of the rules can feel arbitrary at first (they’re not).

But: if it weren’t for Oxfordshire Complex Needs, i probably wouldn’t be alive today. The experience taught me that I am OK and can manage, that everyone isn’t out to get me, and that I can have relationships.

I will always be eternally grateful to Dan, Lisle, Sara, Gillie and the rest of the team for what they’ve done for me, and I intend to pay my good fortune forward by helping other people who struggled like I did.

LIZ LEWIS

Five years since completing Complex Needs. Still use the lessons I learned about myself and the world every day. I only wish there was a group for veterans living with PDs - I miss the camaraderie and the wonderfully kind and empathetic staff and those who sat beside me. Wonderful service which needs better funding to enable more people to have the opportunity to find a way to live.

Elijah-Aaron Rowan

I have been a few times over the years and have found it very helpful for the most part. The therapists are good at their jobs and are compassionate people.
My main issue lies with the time constraints and waiting times.
Due to lack of money you have a set amount of sessions and this means you have to find your main issue and focus on that, eventually all these small issues just build up again. Also due to these time constraints I found myself not saying big issues that I was simply not ready to talk about as I didn't want to waste time. There is a lot of emphasis on wasting time.
Additionally the waiting times are insane, they average at 6 months but with the pandemic its been over a year since I've seen anyone and months since I've even spoken to anyone on the phone. It needs more funding.

John Andrews

Complex Needs proved to me that the UK is far behind in mental health compared with other countries in Europe. I came out of Complex Needs more unwell than I was before.

I agree 100% with another reviewer who said Dan Graham acts as judge, jury and executioner. There are so many talented therapists around that could have his job.

I also agree with the guy who said the Mentalization group was a patronising waste of space. He hit it on the nail there. A very unpleasant older woman with a disablity runs that group.

The techniques used at Complex Needs are very out of date and latest research has shown it to be completely ineffective. Hence, complex Needs is a shameful waste of NHS money.

Grace Timms

The complex needs service helped me to change both my life and how I react to things, I am still far from perfect and disappointed that they won't take re referrals but their support, kindness and patience has made me able to sort appropriate support before hitting complete rock bottom. Special thanks to Dan, Owen, Lisa, Charmaine, Debs and Mo.

Fran Murphy

I agree I think it's very un organized all it does is program reviews and yes one therapist in big group of 21 people I might leave after holiday period if you do talk yeah it sets up things what the point of going to esg and not being able to talk not even at break waist of NHS money I agree I'll finish this month tc your not allowed to talk at all which is pointless going hi guys I decided not to come back now isn't going to come today or finish off I myself haven't seen anything productive at these group I just not going to be able to commit to early morning ok goodbye

Richard Fowler

I saw just one decent therapist in all my time at complex needs in oxford
Most of them are so incredibly useless at their job, unfortunately
Imo the person who ran my "mentilisation" group is almost certainly corrupt
I think complex needs is a waste of nhs money that could be better spent elsewhere In a nutshell my overall experience of complex needs was not a positive one & in some ways actually made me worse
I would definitely not recommend it if you are serious about getting better or finding new ways of managing your mental illness
I just hope the government will put more money into mental health so things get better than what i have experienced at complex needs & the appallingly terrible warneford
I am really not surprised this so-called help centre is connected to the warneford