Many thanks to everyone who has supported my petition since the beginning and those that have joined more recently in supporting my calls for change by Swansea Bay Health board after I’ve experienced the most devastating months of my life under their so-called care. This is not just about me - many others continue to bravely speak up and share their own stories of neglect and harm. This collective outcry gives even more strength to the case for urgent reform. Even the coroner agrees as stated in recent prevention of deaths reports which warn of a continued risk to life. However, despite this history continues to repeat itself.
I like to take the end of the week as an opportunity to reflect and update my supporters. I appreciate all of you. Your support does not go unnoticed and means so much to me at this time. With your support, I am not alone in this fight for justice which gives my campaign for change more credibility and recognition which cannot simply be dismissed by the health board.
This week has been a remarkably busy and intense week. I am absolutely drained emotionally and physically. Managing a petition campaign for change whilst having mental health conditions, being detained in hospital is hard work as the intense emotions that come with that is tiring. However, it is worth it to me if it means that more lives are not lost or ruined to neglect at the very hands of those entrusted with lives at Swansea Bay Mental Health Services.
Update on My Care
As many of you know, I have been denied DBT therapy by Swansea Bay Healthboard on the basis of my age after one psychologist's own biased assessment. This decision was made by a psychologist who spent only minutes with me, yet somehow concluded I didn’t need it – despite being hospitalised and suicidal since February, and having my diagnosis confirmed by multiple psychiatrists.
This week I have now been forced to undergo yet again more assessments by yet another psychologist. I spent over 5 hours answering every possible question that could’ve been asked in relation to my diagnosis of personality disorder. This means yet another report will be written about me which can be added to the 1000 pages of medical records, the view of several psychiatrists and 2 psychologist reports - all of which back up my diagnosis. Whilst it was good to finally have someone who listened to me and heard my struggles, the assessment process was emotionally exhausting and severely triggering.
I asked if “everyone who has DBT has to go through this” and whether it was “standard practice” - the answer I was given suggested not. I was told it was not usually a necessity for being accepted for DBT. This is being forced upon me all because of one biased psychologist’s view who refuses to accept my diagnosis due to me “being just 18”.
I now have to wait 2 weeks for the outcome of the assessment which I am almost certain will add yet more credibility to my diagnosis upheld by several psychiatrists assessments over the past few months - which in this instance will mean DBT has to be offered. If this assessment gives yet again more evidence that my diagnosis stands then surely there is absolutely no justification for further denial or delay in providing therapy. The only reason this assessment is being done is so it "looks like they’re doing something” when in fact they have outright denied me the very treatment for my condition.
NICE guidelines themselves literally state “Do not use assessment as a way of delaying or denying treatment” which is exactly what is happening here. The concept of patient centred care was completely disregarded in this decision as they are clearly far more concerned about damage litigation as opposed to actually treating me.
Additionally, It is very concerning that the DBT service does not appear to adhere to NICE guidelines in terms of assessing eligibility for their service based on my experience of trying to access the service so far. Their way of handling referrals appears to be inconsistent and more based upon “luck” in relation to resource availability at the time as opposed to “clinical need”. This is not acceptable in any healthcare setting and if they can’t even get their referrals right then I dread to think about what the quality of their actual therapy provision is.
Update on Formal Complaints - Meaningful Discussions but Urgent need for Action
I was grateful for a meeting with the Head of Forensics who is leading the investigation into my complaints this week. We had some very meaningful discussions and again my concerns to date have been acknowledged particularly communication issues and unnecessary delays. However, despite constructive discussions about the outcomes to be addressed in my complaint response the same issues continue to occur in my care.
I still remain stuck in Hospital as I have since February without any clear plans for my care going forward. Therefore, I trust that if the health board is as committed to change as they claim to be I will start to see plans for my care coming into place going forward. It is no good just putting things down on paper without meaningful action taking place.
The outcome of my complaints regarding Ward F is due to be published Monday - whilst this is positive I have been given deadlines time after time which have not been adhered to so I remain hesitant to get my hopes up. I will share more details of the discussions I have had in future updates when I have received the report and had the chance to thoroughly review it but so far the commitments I have had discussions surrounding have been optimistic. Nonetheless, let’s be clear that this is only the beginning. The neglect within Swansea Bay’s mental health services runs deep – this is a culture of delay, denial, and disregard that has existed for years. One report cannot undo that.
Maternity Scandal – A Mirror of Mental Health Failings
I have been actively following the maternity scandal at Singleton Hospital which many media channels have been reporting on this week. It is absolutely horrendous the way that mothers have been treated under the so-called care of those meant to be there to support in what is a very difficult and important time of their lives. Instead of being supported, they were neglected and traumatitised by the health care professionals they entrusted with their life and the precious life of their newborns. This is not okay. Dignity is the least these mothers and families can expect in what is the most important time in many of their lives. I fully support all who have spoken up in this scandal and sympathise deeply with those who have suffered avoidable trauma at the hands of this health board's maternity care service.
What’s even more distressing is that after subjecting women to trauma through neglectful maternity care, the very least the health board could offer is mental health support — yet even that is denied. It is concerning that as I was watching the coverage of the maternity scandal play out full of ‘cover ups’, ‘failures to listen’ and ‘lack of accountability' I could draw a clear contrast in these issues raised to Swansea's Mental Health Services. It almost felt like I was watching my own story play out - just in a different service group. Management of the health board have proven they cannot be trusted with patient care which further gives more credibility to my case for a fully independent review of Swansea's mental health services.
In response, the Health Board issued a “heartfelt and unreserved apology”, stating:
“We acknowledge that, at times, the care provided fell short of the kindness and compassion that every individual deserves. Most regrettably, we recognise that there were moments when we failed to listen, when listening was most needed. We are deeply sorry.”
Chairwoman Ms Williams added:
“We give you our word as a health board that we will not let you down again. That is something that we will absolutely stick to.”
While their words were powerful, the irony is unmistakable. The same patterns exposed in maternity care — failures to listen, cover-ups, blame shifting, and inconsistent care — are also found throughout their mental health services. These systemic issues run deep. Apologies don't mean anything without genuine action to change and reform.
Every line of that apology – the trauma, the failure to listen, the lack of compassion – applies word-for-word to Swansea’s mental health services. But there has been no apology. No investigation with this level of transparency. No public acknowledgment of the pain caused.
How can they say “never again” while allowing the same harm to continue in other departments?
Like maternity patients, myself and other patients have faced:
• Delays, denial, and neglect
• Being ignored, disbelieved, and blamed
• Emotionally traumatic care
• Delayed defensive complaint responses that lack accountability
• 'Cut and paste' stock phrases in response to complaints
• Patient blaming as opposed to taking accountability
If the Health Board is truly committed to improving patient care, it must apply this same scrutiny, oversight, and action across all service groups – not just when the cameras are watching.
Read more about the maternity scandal here:
- https://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/welsh-health-board-chief-holds-32067208
- https://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/live-updates-review-maternity-services-32059370
📰 The Herald – July 16, 2025
A major milestone this week was the publication of my story in The Pembrokeshire Herald:
📌 “Health Whistleblower Says Capacity Test Was Used to Silence Him After Media Exposure”
📎 Read the article here:
The article details the failures I’ve experienced first hand — from denied access to essential DBT, dangerous safety oversights, to inaccurate medical records. Most importantly, it highlights how whistle-blowers like me are still battling a system resistant to accountability.
Just one day after Wales Online published my original testimony, I was suddenly summoned for a mental capacity assessment — with no prior notice, no advocate present, and no clinical basis.
The doctor even admitted:
“Don’t know why, to be honest… I was just told to do it.”
That’s not how lawful assessments work. This was an intimidation tactic — an abuse of power — and a violation of the Mental Capacity Act 2005. I was later deemed to have full capacity, but the process itself was unjustifiable and is now subject to a formal complaint. I have legal and advocacy support and will escalate this to the Public Services Ombudsman if needed.
This is part of a wider institutional pattern of discrediting, delaying, and harming those who speak up. My valid outreach ultimately reflects growing frustration across Wales at entrenched failures and lack of accountability in mental health services.
"Jacob Robertson’s case is now one of the most high-profile patient-led campaigns to emerge from Swansea Bay’s mental health system in recent years. His detailed documentation, willingness to speak publicly, and insistence on accountability reflect growing frustration among service users across Wales.
While the Health Board says it is “working to better understand” the issues raised, campaigners argue that deeper cultural change is required."
_ The Herald
“The problem isn’t that they don’t know. It’s that they don’t want to admit what they already know. And until they do, people will continue to be harmed — or worse.”
“The truth is I wouldn’t still be here if I hadn’t fought this hard. But I shouldn’t have to. The way I’ve been treated for raising genuine, fact-based concerns has been nothing short of hostile.””
_ My statement
When my story was first published by Wales Online in May, Swansea Bay University Health Board responded with the same copy-and-paste statement they’ve now repeated to The Herald this week:
"Strict confidentiality rules mean we are unable to comment on individual patients in our care and therefore cannot comment on the claims being made. However, we can confirm we are aware of the patient’s concerns, and we are working to better understand and hopefully resolve them. We actively encourage patients to always let us know if they have any concerns."
_ Swansea Bay University Health board
But despite saying they were “working to resolve” my concerns, what actually happened after that statement proves the opposite. In the weeks following their reply to Wales Online, I faced some of the most serious incidents in my case so far:
• I was subjected to a retaliatory and unlawful mental capacity assessment the very next day, without notice, consent, or lawful justification.
• The spouse of a senior health board leader publicly endorsed dozens of abusive comments targeted at my attempts to speak up
• I then received a formal refusal of the nationally recommended Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT), despite clinical support for it from several psychiatrists, promises of this support and my strong willingness to engage.
These weren’t signs of resolution — they were escalations that clearly breach expected care standards and only forced me to submit even more complaints. The health board is nowhere near resolving my concerns and now, months later, the Health Board has repeated that same generic statement to The Herald — once again failing to acknowledge any of the specifics or take real responsibility.
It shows a pattern of saying as little as possible, avoiding accountability, and hoping it goes away. But it won’t. Not this time.
I’ll keep pushing for answers, action, and proper care.
Time for change
I again want to extend my thanks to every person who has signed, shared, or spoken up. Your voice matters. The petition is nearing 1500 signatures — a clear message that we are demanding real, lasting change. But this is only the beginning. I will continue to push for a accountability and will escalate my complaints to the Public Services Ombudsman if the Health Board does not take meaningful and urgent action.
I will not stop speaking out until every patient is treated with the respect, compassion, and quality care they rightfully deserve. I truly appreciate the support of everyone who has stood with me so far as together we have the power to make a difference. Please share the petition widely and keep raising your voices.
Next steps
To keep the momentum going, I am planning on building a dedicated website to share the many testimonials and stories from those affected — there are so many voices that need to be heard. I will continue sharing the story with the media and actively collecting more experiences to further back up my calls for change. I am hopeful for more widespread coverage in the coming weeks.
My solicitor is currently reviewing my case and awaiting full access to my medical records to ensure they have everything needed to hold the Health Board accountable. Beyond this, I will soon be stepping up efforts to lobby Senedd politicians, MP representatives and charities to further action my calls for transparency, reform, and real action.
We Will Not Be Silenced – The Struggle for Justice Continues
The Health Board may try to silence patients like myself, delay treatment, or protect reputations — but the truth will always find its way out. I will keep fighting not just for myself, but for every single person who has suffered in silence or been told their pain was not valid. We are done being ignored.
Thank you for standing with me,
– Jacob Robertson