Help Does anyone from the UK know how to get around the mental health act in A&E?

[Average Joe]

I'm asking this because it's likely that I will end up having to go to A&E because of my self-harm. (long story short, I used to blood-let but I plan to return to cutting instead) and I can't cut on a superficial layer anymore, it always has to be extreme.

I was in hospital recently because I blood-let too much and my GP sent me to A&E. I was discharged from hospital on Wednesday I think, returned for a transfusion yesterday but that was just an outpatient day procedure. Before I accepted the transfusion, I tried to hard to leave, I told them "I have capacity, I know the risks and I'm not psychotic".

So I'd love to know for future reference if anyone knows any keywords to say or something that gets them out of A&E?
I usually attend, needing my wounds stitched. I attend willingly, not seeking mental health support, I just attend so I can get my cuts closed as it reduces the risk of infections and scarring.

I'm not allowed to leave even when I am treated, I'm told that because it's of a mental health nature, I have to wait to be assessed by the psych team. To this I always always say "I have capacity, I don't have superpowers nor do I see or hear things, I understand you're concerned as a nurse however I am respectfully declining care from the psych liaison team". This is without fail, met with "If you leave now, the PSNI will be rang to bring you back." (PSNI is Police Service of Northern Ireland)

What do I even do in this situation? I'm not detained yet I'm told that I can't leave or else the police will bring me back.
Do I resort to self-suturing or just use steri strips and hope for the best?

I'm sorry if anyone has experienced a similar situation.

 

[SVEN]

I'm sorry for your predicament, however I greatly doubt that there is any magic formula of words to assist in A & E. They're covering themselves in case something serious occurs after they allow you to leave without evaluation. Just imagine the outcry if a person in your position walked out of Casualty without any psych review and, on the way home, stepped in front of a train or made some other impulsive decision to ctb.
The newspapers and others would crucify the emergency staff who permitted someone who self harmed seriously enough to need medical treatment just to amble out on the basis that they said, "I'm fine, not at all suicidal".

 

[GeminiButter]

You can't leave while they wait for the psych liaison to come and see you, they will send police out to find you if you manage to get out. This is the case regardless of the capacity you have and how 'normal' or well you seem or are. This won't change.

 

[Average Joe]

Thank you both for your replies @SVEN & @GeminiButter .
I do understand their point of view, perhaps I'm wrong in how I think, as I was hoping for a loophole or some sort of magic.

I don't want to make their jobs any more difficult than they already are. And I know it's not their fault. The NHS is under so much strain, and I do appreciate that they do the best they can.

It's just very disheartening when you're sitting for so many hours and nobody even acknowledges you while you're sitting in the observation chair beside the nursing desk. Then someone on drugs comes in giving abuse and shouting, with all the staff around them. I don't blame them either, I'm sure they have their own personal issues.

I don't know what to say, life has just gone downhill massively in the past few months.

Thankyou both for your time.

 

[SVEN]

If the only help I can offer is to try to validate your concern and distress, you've got it and my best wishes.

 

[Average Joe]

If the only help I can offer is to try to validate your concern and distress, you've got it and my best wishes.

Thank you so much my brother/sister.
I hope you are doing okay. I had a laugh when you mentioned Eric Cartman on a different thread/post

 

[GeminiButter]

Thank you both for your replies @SVEN & @GeminiButter .
I do understand their point of view, perhaps I'm wrong in how I think, as I was hoping for a loophole or some sort of magic.

I don't want to make their jobs any more difficult than they already are. And I know it's not their fault. The NHS is under so much strain, and I do appreciate that they do the best they can.

It's just very disheartening when you're sitting for so many hours and nobody even acknowledges you while you're sitting in the observation chair beside the nursing desk. Then someone on drugs comes in giving abuse and shouting, with all the staff around them. I don't blame them either, I'm sure they have their own personal issues.

I don't know what to say, life has just gone downhill massively in the past few months.

Thankyou both for your time.

I'm sorry that you are going through so much pain that trips to a&e keep happening, and that you've got to put up with the bullshit nonsense of medical bureaucracy as well as feeling like shit. I know what you mean about on one hand being annoyed about this and on the other knowing that they are just doing their jobs.

(And I don't live there anymore, but I'm from there too )