Reports about the dreadful events in the east Midlands last June (Nottingham killer went to MI5 HQ pleading to be arrested, court told, 24 January) have prompted me to write about a time when my son developed very violent psychotic behaviour. We rang our GP at 9am and he agreed something needed to be done. Three hours later he arrived with a psychiatrist, and my son was sectioned, a bed booked, ambulance called and, five hours after our first call, he was in hospital. But that was in 1987.
In November 2023, my son had a very similar attack. A telephone call arranged for a visit from a psychiatrist later in the day, who agreed that he needed treatment. By 5.30pm on the second day, a team had been assembled and a “section 2” was issued.
