My experience was absolutely brilliant. My advisor Joe was the best fit for me and the help I received as made such a massive difference to my mental health, how I view the world and more importantly myself. Joe was compassionate and thoughtful and I will be forever grateful.
Im writing this review in regards to how my mother was treated and her experience with The Old Vicarage. This has been so disheartening that I feel compelled to share it. This service is supposed to support people who are struggling — yet my mums experience has left her feeling worse than before she reached out for help. On two separate occasions, she was promised a phone call that never came. She waited, hoping someone would follow through, but no one ever did. Over the course of several days, she rang four times, each time getting no answer. She even left four voicemails, explaining how urgently she needed to speak to someone, and still — no response whatsoever. For a place that calls itself a mental health centre, the complete lack of care, communication, and follow-up is unacceptable. When people are reaching out for help, they’re often doing so as a last resort. To be met with silence and broken promises can be devastating. She now feels worse now than before she contacted them. She was offered initial support, given hope that she would be listened to and guided — only to be pushed even further down by their lack of compassion and accountability. It’s no wonder suicide rates are rising when services like this fail to do even the bare minimum to check in on vulnerable people. If you’re struggling, please be careful about placing your trust in this centre. My mum expected understanding and professionalism but was instead met with indifference and neglect. This experience has completely shattered her confidence in getting help through this service. All in all, no support whatsoever — and a heartbreaking example of how mental health care can go so wrong. If you want true help, don’t resort to this service as they have no true respect and treat it as if it’s just another job to get them through the day, not that they have people relying on them for support to make a difference to their life Places like this are supposed to help, and that is the total opposite of what they have done. Truly and utterly ashamed. This could lead to someone’s death and this is how people who need help are treated. Take this as a warning. I have also wrote a complaint to the NHS in regards to the regulations that they have breached.
Overall I’ve had (and still am having) a really positive experience. There’s been one or two staff (CPNs) over the last few years who somehow managed to leave me in a worse place than before they arrived, but this has been more than made up by others, namely Katie, Becky and Hannah, who have managed to pull me out of a fair few deep dark holes. I can understand the mixed reviews, but in their defence: they’re horribly understaffed, underfunded, and the people I’ve had dealings with, especially over the last year or so, are in the profession for the right reasons ie: they want to make a difference. Well guess what? You ARE doing. Thank you x Edit: The out-of-hours service quite often is unreachable. I don’t think that’s actually manned by anyone at the Old Vicarage though.
Fantastic best mental health team I ever had Catherine was amazing with me i wish I had her back
The reviews here on Google are very mixed, but my experience has been good. Communication and appointments: no problems. I've had three appointments (first was in June 2023), each with a different doctor (the doctors, particularly the junior ones, move on quite quickly). With general questions, the senior secretary has been extremely helpful.
After reading these reviews i thought I would add my own side of the story so I was under the care of this "mental health care facility" and was in the process of having video consultations with a psychologist however after 3 appointments I was given a ultimatum of having either continued access of a ocupational therapist or continued support with a psychologist however in my final consultation i was told not asked that i was being discharged from both services without any explanation and i am not the only person this has happened to oh no my dad has also had the same "treatment" and if only the old vicarage was totally honest they would say that i am telling the truth however with their empty promises i wouldn't hold my breath on that also took 4 months from the date of a blood test for a prescription to be sent to me after countless calls to them asking what is happening to get a reply of either we shall call you back and let you know (never happened) or the final time i called the receptionist said that the psychiatrist is on holiday Sorry for the Long essay but are these guys serious? They cant keep trained staff long enough or they are locum replacements which is a nice recipe for disaster as they cant keep up with the workload i get that but just to discharge people is dangerous they dont care that people are suffering they just discharge and put you on a 6 week program and say bye and goodluck that is not going to work i mean i have been with this team for 3 years and you really think a six week program (6 hours if your lucky) and then nothing Is going to cut it? NO well its happening here and its too dangerous you all need to go back to the drawing board with a cup of tea and find a better solution as this could lead to death simply by stupid decisions I wouldnt recommend having a appointment here
On behalf of Nina by her partner Paul Tighe Appalling No Stars NONE ! Telephone lines didnt work , no one contacted us from Emails, ended up driving there, where we were left to stand outside in the rain for 1.5 hours , when we finally go access they told us that they had no record or Nina ! So we showed them the letter they had originally sent 4 months previously. They then managed to find her. Having done a couple of basic scans , we were told yes there is a little scaring on the brain but that she should try and read more books ! (Nina was originally a avid reader) (scaring in the brain ! is it Me !) However we have changed our GP to one within the Notts district and are being refer to a different Metal health practice I suggest you do the same , these people should be struck off !, I am currently starting legal proceedings against them . Paul
Wish I could give this service 0 stars. If you're suicidal anticipate a 6 -12 month wait then be put on meds that never get reviewed. Maxine is the most useless point of contact, she never gets back in touch with you despite copius messages being left with the admin team. The admin team shouldn't be doing the job they are doing as they have 0 intellect and no interpersonal skills. Either go private or kill yourself as these seem to be the only two viable options where mental health is concerned these days. Disgusting creatures with no compassion.
Have spent the worst part of a year trying to get care from these people. Unless you're willing to call them weekly and badger them to actually do things, nothing gets done. Prescriptions don't get filled properly or on time, referrals aren't done, even the service manager just ignores patients and doesn't call them. Only saving grace is the nurse Katharine! If you can afford to go private, do it.
If I could give this place zero stars I would. They’ve cancelled multiple appointments in a row last minute or not even bothered telling me at all leaving me to have to call to try and arrange another. Have now left me months without any support what so ever.
The Old Vicarage is located at Chesterfield & North Derbyshire Royal Hospital, Chesterfield Rd, Calow, Bolsover, Chesterfield S44 5BL, UK
You can contact The Old Vicarage at +44 1246 562080
You can find directions to The Old Vicarage by following this map link