Stop SIM. PLEASE READ and sign

Siena · August 2021

I didn’t know this was a thing. But apparently there is a new thing being put in place where if you regularly get in contact with the police get 136d, end up in a&e a lot. Then you’ll just get ignored and be put under sim. Or something. As seen as attention seeker and a way to save nhs money

Obviously completly wrong. So please read for yourself and sign this petition

https://stopsim.co.uk/

Thanks

JustV · August 2021

Whaaaat. That's mad. Thanks for sharing this @Shaunie.

More context from the link:

The SIM model is designed for people who are very unwell, and who most often come into contact with emergency services. Despite being at very high risk of self-harm and suicide, the SIM model instructs services that usually provide care in an emergency not to treat these people. This includes A&E, ambulance services, mental health services and the police. This also affects people under the SIM model if they want to access a diagnosis or treatment for physical health conditions. For example, they can be denied care for a chest X-ray, even if people with the same physical symptoms would usually be offered one.

SIM justifies this with the argument that these people’s behaviour is “attention seeking”, and places an “unnecessary financial burden” on the NHS. They claim that when service users under SIM receive care or treatment from the NHS, “high risk behaviours” (including self-harm and suicide) are “‘positively reinforced’ by 999 teams (meaning that it would encourage the patient to repeat the high risk behaviour).”

A key part of SIM is the police being a part of community mental health teams. These police officers are called “High Intensity Officers” (HIOs) and they are given NHS contracts. SIM documents state that HIOs receive 3 days of initial classroom training, which is “facilitated and led by Paul Jennings” (who is not a mental health professional), and ‘understanding of mental health provision and services’ is not an essential job requirement. HIOs have full access to service users’ medical records, and are also able to share police records with medical staff.

High Intensity Officers are repeatedly described in SIM documents as “coercive”, this means using force or threats to make someone do what you want them to do. The role of HIOs is to apply pressure on people under the SIM model until they stop “demonstrating intensive patterns of demand”, this means until they stop contacting services such as 999, A&E, mental health services and the police. One threat which is used to pressure individuals is legal action, such as the use of Community Behaviour Orders (for example, as a consequence of calling 999 when feeling suicidal) which can result in up to 5 years in prison.

[...]

Our Concerns About SIM:
We believe that SIM breaches the Human Rights Act 1998. SIM’s policy on withholding potentially life-saving care from patients breaches Article 2, relating to the Right to Life.

[...]

Jellyelephant · August 2021

Yes I have been posting about this on my insta quite a bit to raise awareness as I was shocked to read about it and I’ve had quite a few replies to my insta stories saying that’s shocking and really bad. Their insta is @stopsimmh for anyone interested.

maryam852 · September 2021

@Shaunie I have never heard of this and am definitely researching! i think that's absolutely atrocious, thank you for sharing this.

Past User · November 2021

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Stop SIM. ** PLEASE READ** and sign

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Stop SIM. PLEASE READ and sign