Lewis was detained under section 3 of The Mental Health Act as he was experiencing delusions.

He was being treated but didn’t agree with his diagnosis and didn’t want to take the medication.

He found the Advocacy Hub leaflet on the ward and made a self-referral as he thought we might be

able to help.

Due to the 2020 COVID-19 outbreak, the service was operating over the phone, Skype and email. Darren, an advocate from n-compass, telephoned Lewis to tell him about the service, the safeguarding policy and the n-compass self-advocacy app.

Lewis explained that he was being given medication he didn’t need as he did not agree with his diagnosis. Darren by email many times, sometimes three times a day. Some of the content of the emails was irrelevant to his role of Independent Mental Health Advocate (IMHA), but he was able to read through them and decide what Lewis could be supported with.

He felt that he didn’t get on with his consultant and had asked for a second opinion. He was not happy that the second opinion could only be given by another consultant at the same hospital and asked for someone who he felt was more independent of the hospital to which he had been admitted. He asked if he could be moved to another hospital.

Darren supported Lewis in his reviews over Skype and was able to email the consultant directly with his wishes.

A bed became available at another hospital and Lewis was moved there. He reported via e-mail to Darren that he was happier with his new consultant.

Because the new hospital was out of Darren’s borough, he could no longer work with him, so Lewis was signposted to the IMHA service for the new hospital.

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