MENTAL health patients who had their counselling sessions scrapped earlier this year face an 18-week wait for further specialist help.

The Peeblesshire News revealed how patients turned up Hay Lodge Hospital in September only to be told their counselling sessions had been withdrawn.

Many of the patients suffer from conditions such as anxiety, depression and eating disorders.

And it took weeks before NHS Borders finally contacted them directly to apologise and offer a watered-down wellbeing service as a replacement.

It has since emerged that many of the patients who were left high and dry by the cuts, will now have to join the back of the queue to obtain further specialist help for their mental health conditions.

One 31-year-old patient told us: "I can't think of a way in which this health board could have handled this matter worse.

"Patients have been offered the chance to go to a wellbeing service and have to self-refer through a form.

"It was totally disheartening to see the self-referral form ask the question, 'please tell us why you would like to see an advisor', with the response options indicating this is a broad service for people trying to lose weight or stop smoking.

"It's totally inadequate for anyone with a severe mental health condition like depression.

"I asked about this and was told that I could still be referred to specialist mental health services, such as counselling, if the wellbeing service wasn't appropriate.

"I sought more information about accessing counselling via Freedom of Information requests, only to have my worst fears confirmed that those receiving counselling in Peebles before the service was cut will not be automatically enrolled in counselling again, they'll need a new referral from their GP.

"And once they get that referral, they'll go straight to the back of the waiting list."

According to NHS Borders 'most patients' waiting on specialist mental health services are seen within the 18-week target time.

But the four-to-five-month wait for many who had been receiving regular counselling sessions is too much.

The 31-year-old "I'm so sick of how NHS Borders have treated me that I've made the decision to see a counsellor privately.

"I'm fortunate enough to be able to afford this, but my concern is the other people affected.

"I'm doing better much better with my mental health these days, but I know that if I'd been at my lowest with depression when this happened, this experience could have been unbearable.

"When the NHS Borders board are sitting cosy this Christmas, I hope they spare a thought for the people they've let down by cutting valued mental health services."

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