Decision Report 202001295

Summary

C has been diagnosed with Emotionally Unstable Personality Disorder (EUPD). C was admitted to a specialist mental health facility on two occasions. Whilst there, C was under the care of a consultant psychiatrist.

C complained to the board about various matters including the decisions to discharge C to care in the community, given C's EUPD diagnosis, and that the community mental health team (CMHT) were providing support only by telephone, rather than face-to-face contact, due to arrangements in place during the COVID-19 pandemic. In their response, the board explained that international evidence advised that patients with EUPD should be cared for in the community wherever possible and that the board had sought to offer C the most appropriate care when they encouraged C to leave the ward.

C was dissatisfied and raised their complaints with this office. We found that C's discharges were reasonable in terms of the planning undertaken, discussions held and arrangements made both in terms of C's diagnosis and the particular circumstances of the time. We also found that these decisions were in line with relevant guidance. We did not uphold this complaint.