Fears patients will be left with ‘nowhere to turn’ as services remain suspended

With the closure of autism and mental health services on hold, there are growing concerns that vulnerable patients are left with no ‘place to turn’.

Heywood-based LANCuk has taken the decision to end its autism and ADHD “pathway” after it was rated inadequate for the fourth time in five years by the Care Quality Commission. That contract ends in March.

NHS Greater Manchester said a new provider would be contacting patients about upcoming appointments and local GPs were being advised on how to deal with urgent referrals.

But Wayne Fletcher said his son Ryan, who has autism, ADHD and Tourette’s disorder, and other vulnerable people like him are left feeling lost and unable to access the medication they need for their symptoms.

Ryan, now 19, has been receiving treatment at LANCuk for more than a year after being transferred from children’s mental health services.

At a recent consultation it was agreed that medication was needed to help with concentration, relaxation and sleep patterns.

However, because he had previously stopped taking his medication, he was treated as a “new” patient. This means LANCuk breached CQC regulations which prohibit it from accepting new or repeat patients for its prescription services.

Meanwhile, Ryan’s GP was unable to prescribe a medication for him because he had not been sent details of his symptoms and the medicines needed to treat him.

Mr Wayne, from Prestwich, is deeply frustrated by the situation. Especially since Mr LANCuk indicated he was waiting for new arrangements to be made before notifying patients of the pending changes.

The 50-year-old man, who has ADHD and is also a LANCuk patient, said he had told the service how he was feeling.

“I said, ‘We know the service is going to end, and we’re deliberately not informing patients,’” he told the Local Democracy Press.

“Patients should be told that in a few weeks they will have nowhere else to turn. GPs cannot give medicines as it is not their specialty.

“You sit there knowing full well that it’s a disservice to all the patients, and you’re not doing anything about it.”

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Wayne explains that people with conditions such as autism or severe anxiety have a hard time coping with change unless they are professionally managed and given time to adapt.

And he worries that delays in notifying patients could be a “bombshell” for many people.

“My greatest fear is not for myself, but for vulnerable adults who have bigger problems than us.

“Why aren’t they told? Why aren’t they told? They have no idea what’s going to happen.

“There are potential problems. They tell you about patient selection, but you can only make choices if you are informed.

“Information is not getting through. No letters or emails are coming.”

He classifies Ryan as a “vulnerable adult.” This is because he has particular difficulty socializing outside of his small friendship group.

“But I know there are a lot of people who have it worse,” he said.

“I look at Ryan and think, ‘If that affects Ryan, how will it affect other people?’” he added. ”

Nadia Baig, Assistant Director of Transformation and Maternity for NHS Greater Manchester (HMR region), said arrangements were currently being made to ensure LANCuk patients continued to receive care from alternative providers, and that the Patients will be contacted by LANC UK to cancel their appointment, it said.

She further added: “Once these arrangements have been confirmed, the new provider will contact patients about upcoming appointments.

“Local GPs have been informed of what steps to take if an emergency referral is required and will also be informed of the process for referring them to alternative care providers.

“All relevant authorities consider patient safety to be paramount in implementing the CQC’s decisions.”