Ashcombe Centre Medical Services in Leek, Cheddleton

Reviews

1. Martyn Stanley ★★★★★

   I’ve read many of the reviews of the Ashcombe Centre, and I can understand why some people have felt let down. My main takeaway, though, is that mental health services in this area are severely underfunded and not sufficiently supported to meet the growing demand. My own interactions with the Ashcombe Centre didn’t get off to the best start. I often felt like the ball in a China vs South Korea Olympic Mixed Doubles Ping Pong Final — bounced rapidly between GP, Crisis Team, CMHT, Adult ADHD, back to Crisis, and so on. It was an impressive rally, but I eventually landed in the CMHT side of the court. Mental health is a profoundly complex area of medicine, and I completely understand that I wasn’t an easy case to assess or support. But after being under the CMHT for several weeks now, I honestly can’t praise them enough. The professionals I’ve worked with have shown exceptional warmth, empathy, understanding, effort, and professionalism. What makes that even more impressive is the reality that they’re working under immense pressure, with limited resources and overwhelming caseloads. Despite that, they still manage to treat people with care, respect, and genuine humanity. It’s clear they go above and beyond what the system allows them to do. For anyone finding themselves frustrated while engaging with services, my advice would be: try to see the people behind the process. They’re not the enemy — they’re fighting an uphill battle within an underfunded system, and your openness, honesty, and patience can make a real difference in how effectively they can help you. I feel genuinely fortunate to have been placed with clinicians who have the experience and insight to unpick a complex mix of co-morbid factors and help me feel truly understood

   almost 10 months ago
2. Melissa Macmillan ★☆☆☆☆

   I had a breakdown in 2010 ! Recently been thinking about the treatment I received ! I feel like I should have made a complaint at the time. Please feel free to look into my records. I was treated in the most unprofessional uncaring way ! They gave up on me in the end as I wasn’t apparently listening to what they were telling me ( I was ill) but I remember one of them said to my husband who was there with me that if he needed any help with his feelings to call Them but I was lost cause ! I was really not well at the time , I remember one of them callously said that I looked a mess and my eyebrows needed plucking !! I was ill ! When asked about how I was in general life I told them I was unusually the life and soul of the party to be told no you just pretend to be ! That I was dead inside ! The list goes on ! I know this was a long time ago but I really needed to get this off my chest! Hope things have improved for others ! Also had me on pills I didn’t need ! I

   1 year ago
3. Grant Hill ★☆☆☆☆

   A very unreliable service. I feel very let down and have lost trust in the NHS regarding my mental health because of people not getting back to me, etc.

   1 year ago

1. K Williams ★☆☆☆☆

   Edit Update#4 I have now been discharged from service, because of the long list of people they need to see. I don't feel one bit better mentally, I have self reffered and i am offered three therapy appointments. Which in the past have not helpdd, the mental health psychologist for the centre is useless. Her techniques don't work and it's mainly reading from text books or onlline source material which doesent help with having autism and not understanding any of it. I wouldn't recommend referring anyone to these clowns..your life will be better for it. Now I'm trying to find somewhere else to go to. This place is poorly run, the staff had no experience of autism until I kicked off and emailed the chief executive for the area..which they then had autism experts go in to teach them. I had evey option to sue these clowns back in the day but due to nhs being protected due to 3 year mark I was unable too. If that law ever gets reversed , il be passing this place on to a solicitors. Edit update #3 8 months since past review. Still no therapy or psychologist sessions. Meet ups with cpn involve talking about things irrelevant to mental health recovery. Service is trying to silence me by palming me off to external services. Have diagnosis of aspergers syndrome and borderline personality disorder. Antipsychotics have proven useful to treat BpD. According to health sites.. this private firm contracted by NHS refuse to explore these avenues and I'm pretty much left to it with no therapy and standard ssri which do little to improve my mood. I constantly feel suicidal and am getting to the point where I want to give up truly. This place should be shut down and contracted out to a service that actually cares about patients EdIT 2 years on Still no help with this service though now i have a support worker who is of no use if i am.being honest. Though he means well and seems like a nice person. In terms of recovery i dont feel like i am getting much. I still deal with the stress of life. The service itself is looking for any excuse to discharge me. Due to its "Staff shortage and over subscription" !! Still not seen a psychologist yet my cmd claims i have (when i saw a dr for a medication review back in december 2021) still no therapy; though i was given an option of group therapy (probably to acclimate their staff shortage) over video call. This i said is unacceptable because i dont even skype friends or family. Why would i be okay talking with strangers about their and my own depression. Not them taking into account i have aspergers syndrome and therefore somewhat socially inept and the anxiety that brings They haveno autism training what so ever. I asked for alternative therapy and was told there is none and they can refer me to another service (passing the book) and as a result be discharged. I HAVE STILL HAD NO THERAPY!! I have complaimed and never had anything back in writing. I was then ambushed in a small room by my support worker cmd, a therapist , the staff whose name i can not mention . I was apprehensive about signing anything with no friendly witness present so i told them no i wont sign anything. Little did i know i was coerced into a verbal contract where i have to stick to appointment slots for stabilisation with cmd whatever that means otherwise discharged . No therapist?? Still?? But some jargon which preludes to that (bare in mind 2 and half years of suicide attempts and i still have no therapy) i have been depressed for 10 years with multiple back and forths to CBT therapy 15 weeks with 6 month re referal waits before repeating agaim and again in macclesfield when i lived in cheshire. Tried 6 different SSRI fornumerous suicide attempts hospital admissions. And they clearly read none of that from my file. If they did. They would help quicker. Medical negligence. I have contacted cqc twice and will follow up with what happens next. This place should be investigated and management sacked.and i ambeing told i have be stabilised before incan see a therapist

   1 year ago
2. Student Key Productions ★★★★☆

   I've had a great experience with the centre. They have helped a lot, although things are slow, they can't be blamed for it. They give the best care possible in this day and age.

   almost 4 years ago
3. Gail Wright ★☆☆☆☆

   Well Cpn was always off sick, nobody to cover at all. 17 safe guardings raised regarding my daughter. Consultant waste of time. Never no meetings set up. 6 years of hell. Not listening. Wrong diagnosis wrong medication. Blood tests were never done. No back up from Duty manager. QCC involved for 2 years. No explanation as yet. Social worker. Making excuses for the poor care and neglect of a patient. Numerous phone calls, never received a phone call back. Debbie center manager rang several times. No phone call back from her. Made there own stories up. It needs shutting down and half the staff need to be retrained or sacked and pin number took away!!!!

   almost 5 years ago

1. Josh hall ★★☆☆☆

   Say they will ring you back but never do. Persistence and moaning is the only way to ever get ever seen. Been here for over three years, great help when you get seen.

   more 8 years ago
2. Jon Cooper ★☆☆☆☆

   Very unreliable. Ring for ages, ends up pointless. Not very good at all.

   more 8 years ago
3. John McGowan ★☆☆☆☆

   Leave you hanging on waiting for nothing to happen! Full of promises with no deliverance!

   more 9 years ago

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