Medical Support Services: Our Experiences

Published by Stephen Milward in Medical · Wednesday 25 Feb 2026 · 3 minutes
Tags: Medical, Support, Services, Experiences, Healthcare, Support, Patient, Care, Medical, Assistance, Health, Services, Case, Management, Healthcare, Professionals, Wellness

Navigating the world of medical support services can feel like wandering through a maze, especially when it comes to mental health and pain management. We’ve had our fair share of ups and downs, from those frustrating moments of waiting for appointments to breakthroughs that made all the difference.

The problem is that finding the right support is very difficult. Here's the question - what do we mean by 'right support'? It's not just finding a person with the skills and experience to help get through a difficult time. I'll give an example.

Mental health. this area has had greater exposure in the media in recent times. A recognition that people suffer from different mental health issues, some life threatening, has taken place. So commensurate with that, one might thing that support for these people has also increased. Well in a way it has. Services like Nottingham and Nottinghamshire Talking Therapies (i) have appeared, including the ability to self-refer. However, when you do that it takes weeks to get a telephone appointment, which turns out to be a checklist with very little talking. Then they say 'we'll call you back next week' but then don't. You're left in limbo and the motivation to continue disappears. Is that what they want? What's the point of it?

The same can be said about pain management. My experience of pain management services is very mixed. Over many years I have received treatments and discussions with a variety of people. I've had to travel miles to see people. I feel forgotten by the latest attempt at interaction with pain management professionals. Indeed, the latest was a telephone call from a pharmacist asking me to reduce my pain management medication! There isn't a cohesive approach evident in my pain management. Again, any confidence I had in the support services has evaporated. I feel isolated and angry.

When it comes to my asthma management, the story is a much happier one. I have an asthma nurse and support is offered by Asthma + Lung UK (ii). For this condition, support is excellent. Good quality support is therefore possible, offering help and information that is directed to the individual patient.

So, when you look for medical support for serious conditions, you'll probably find it in time. That's the easy bit. Finding support that is of high quality, with consistency, compassion and success, that's another story entirely, but it can be done.

(i) Nottingham and Nottinghamshire Talking Therapies

(ii) Asthma + Lung UK