Mother, 31, suffering from depression says she was denied mental health care because she is ‘too pretty’
- Jade Rowlands, 31, from Wales, diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder
- Said NHS workers comments made her feel like she was discharged for her looks
- Comments come as health workers continue to battle against coronavirus
- Here’s how to help people impacted by Covid-19
A mother suffering from depression has claimed she was denied mental health care because she is ‘too pretty’.
Jade Rowlands, 31, from Caerphilly in Wales, was diagnosed with psychological trauma and post-traumatic stress disorder after she spent years visiting her GP to ask for help.
But during her last appointment with NHS workers at Aneurin Bevan University Health Board, she says she was advised not to have further appointments because she was ‘well presented’.
Ms Rowlands said she attended each session with her partner, who waited outside for her to finish.
Jade Rowlands, 31, from Caerphilly in Wales, said she was refused care on the NHS because she is ‘too pretty’. She is pictured with her daughter Honey-Grace above
Ms Rowlands suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder and has since gone private in order to receive further treatment
Describing her last appointment, Ms Rowlands said: ‘Basically, they said they didn’t feel I needed to see anyone because of my appearance – because of my nails, my hair and my make-up.
‘I was well presented – I felt that’s what they said.
‘The way it came out was they told me I’m too pretty for help. I went in there crying. I was distressed going in there.’
Ms Rowlands was offered a separate course of ten appointments three months after her current one finished, but is still yet to receive them almost a year later.
She started seeing a doctor following two seizures in January, and began paying for private appointments in October. She has been on every medication for depression and had counselling.
She said this was the real turning point for her as, after she suffered the seizures, she felt she had hit rock bottom and the only way was up.
She was receiving care from Aneurin Bevan University Health Board. One of their hospitals, Royal Gwent, is pictured above. There is no suggestion that she received treatment at this hospital
Ms Rowlands is also preparing to set up a support group for others in her area struggling with mental health, called ‘Muddled Minds’.
Her comments come as the UK remains on lockdown due to coronavirus, with more than 140,000 cases recorded so far.
NHS Trusts have appealed for patients to keep attending Accident and Emergency and making contact if they have issues, after the number of people arriving more than halved during the crisis.
Coronavirus teams are completely separate from other parts of the hospital.
Boris Johnson is expected to review the UK’s lockdown today, as he returns to work after battling the illness, although he is unlikely to lift any restrictions until it ends next month.
A spokesman for Aneurin Bevan University Health Board said: ‘It would be inappropriate to comment on individual cases, however, we would ask Ms Rowlands to make contact with us so that we are able to look into her concerns.’