Lisa Atkin
July 2021
Lisa
Atkin
,
RMN
Oxon West Adult Mental Health Team
Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust
Oxfordshire
United Kingdom
Lisa used socially distanced walks as a way to assess how I was doing as well as visiting me at home.
I am usually admitted into the hospital each year when I have a severe episode of my bipolar disorder, often under the mental health act. Lisa has been vital to me not having an admission since my last discharge a year ago; she has gone above and beyond by offering me very frequent home visits when I'm unwell, even taking my dog out with me and helping me with my motivation. Lisa recognized that to have an admission during Covid would be extremely difficult for me as would have meant that I couldn't have my usual daily visits from my husband and so she has done all she can to ensure that I remain at home.
It would have been easy for Lisa to say that they were not doing face-to-face visits due to Covid restrictions, instead, Lisa used socially distanced walks as a way to assess how I was doing as well as visiting me at home. Lisa is always proactive at getting me medication reviews whenever needed and I greatly appreciate the effort that she puts into helping myself and her other patients recover and live their lives to the fullest. This support has had the knock-on effect that I've been off work for a much shorter period of time, this in itself aided by Lisa having contact with my manager to ensure reasonable adjustments are in place for me within my role in children's social care. Mental health services are often criticized unfairly. I'm extremely grateful for the support from Lisa and the rest of the mental health team and hope that they get recognition for all of their great work.
It would have been easy for Lisa to say that they were not doing face-to-face visits due to Covid restrictions, instead, Lisa used socially distanced walks as a way to assess how I was doing as well as visiting me at home. Lisa is always proactive at getting me medication reviews whenever needed and I greatly appreciate the effort that she puts into helping myself and her other patients recover and live their lives to the fullest. This support has had the knock-on effect that I've been off work for a much shorter period of time, this in itself aided by Lisa having contact with my manager to ensure reasonable adjustments are in place for me within my role in children's social care. Mental health services are often criticized unfairly. I'm extremely grateful for the support from Lisa and the rest of the mental health team and hope that they get recognition for all of their great work.