Update (sorry for how long it's been)

Sorry if this sounds like a bit of a (possibly ungrateful) moan

I sent the benefit Tribunal a copy of the letter I sent my GP about my depression, the letter was a re-written version of the posts I wrote in this thread.

Wont bore you with the details, basically the Tribunal said my GP lacks knowledge of me having only been my GP for just over a year (with full access to all my records unlike the Tribunal) , I'm lying, and I'm occasionally rude to people. Was a complete waste of time me going, as I hadn't lost my temper with my GP for example, they said there was nothing wrong with me, I tried explaining that before I see my GP I'm concentrating on remaining calm as I am now etc, but it fell on deaf ears.

As I attended my own sons uni graduation, my best friends funeral and my son and daughter take us out for dinner on our birthdays, I'm, also social according to them,

I tried explaining that I avoid people at all costs, again fell on deaf ears.

I told them my GP was trying to get me to talk to wellbeing and is altering my depression and pain meds, that translated into "claims he's in pain yet no pain referral........"

Anyway, end result is no benefits and unable to work, so money is really really really tight, which doesn't help my stress (or my wife's). But at least UI can forget about dealing with them now.

After sending the letter about my depression to my GP, when I went to see her, she was concerned about me, but stressed that I really really do need to pluck up the courage to contact Wellbeing as they work in partnership. She also increased my Duloxetine to one in the morning and two at night, and also refereed me to a sleep clinic.

So I finally plucked up the courage to contact wellbeing, I sent them a copy of the same letter and stressed "PLEASE CONTACT ME BY EMAIL ONLY" that was on 7th March.

A few night later, my wife answered the phone then came over to me and said "It's Wellbeing"

I reluctantly took the phone, spoke to a nice polite person who said they do phone appointments for the first consultation and arranged a date/time.

This didn't help me much as I hate being put on the spot /talking on the phone.

Anyway, the appointment date arrived, I spent about 2 hours preparing myself mentally for it, the guy phones me up and is a really pleasant guy to talk to.

In his credit, the first thing he said is "I see you don't like talking on the phone, if you want I can arrange a face to face appointment instead". I said "I've built myself up for the call now, and as I'm talking to him, we may as well go ahead.

The call lasted for about 40 mins, and he suggested him referring me to a positive pain management group, and possibly referring me for CBT at a later date, then asked what I thought abort that choice. I said that's fine (not sure what else I could say, but am happy for a pain clinic anyway).

A few days later I received a letter from him stating what we had decided.

In the letter he had scored me as follows.

PHQ9 (depression scale) 18

GAD7 (anxiety scale) 13

And I also had a questionnaire to fill out asking me

1) Did staff listen to you and treat your concerns seriously?
2) Do you feel that the service has helped you to better understand your and address your difficulties?
3) Did you feel involved in making choices about your treatment and care?
4) On reflection, did you get the help that mattered to you
5) Did you have confidence in your therapist and her / his skills techniques.

Well I'm not too sure how I'm supposed to fill that one out, I've been given one option, and dont know yet how helpful it will be.


And all went quiet for a few weeks.

Then the phone rang (my answering phone is permanently on, saying all calls are screened and to leave a message if they want me to get back etc) and it came up "Private Caller" in the display. Usually when that happens it's my GP surgery, but I ignored it anyway. Then straight away it phoned again, again "Private Caller", so just in case I picked it up and it turned out to be the therapist again (why he couldn't leave a message I don't know)


He said they could no longer refer patients for main management clinics, and I would need to contact my GP.

He then made two other suggestions Wellbeing could do for me.