Simon Abrams’ Post

Some key learning points contained in the report for all to take awareness of.

The Health Services Safety Investigations Body (HSSIB) has advanced its review of mental health inpatient services within the NHS and independent sector. This significant development, detailed in a recent National Health Executive article, focuses on four key areas: learning from inpatient mental health incidents, transitioning care from youth to adult services, the impact of out-of-area placements, and enhancing the conditions for safe and therapeutic care delivery. The review aims to improve patient safety and outcomes in mental health services, with findings expected to be published throughout 2024. For those passionate about healthcare advancements and patient safety, this article offers valuable insights into the ongoing efforts to enhance mental health inpatient care.

HSSIB review into mental health inpatient services takes step forward... The impact of out-of-area placements on the safety of mental health patients is a very risky and costly pathway in Mental Health Services. The risk increases massively when patients are sent out of the area, and the impact is felt far and wide within communities, friends, and families. Several years ago, the government pledged to put a stop to out-of-area placements. However, we are still facing and discussing the same issue today. Let's hope the HSSIB review of this problem goes far enough to bring actual outcomes and improvements. It's time for a change and a better future for mental health patients. Our NHS Trusts are doing everything they can. Time for more support......

📔 EHMA - European Health Management Association published a Mental Health Fact Sheet focusing on the correlation between violence against healthcare workers and #mentalhealth👩⚕️ 👉 Learn more about the role of #healthmanagement to protect the wellbeing of the #healthcare #workforce. 🖇Download the factsheet https://lnkd.in/dnxKhA2h #EuropeanMentalHealthWeek 👏 Olga, Federica, Cesar!

🩺 The NHS has made a HUGE development in mental health support. 📞 When patients call 111 and choose the mental health option, they’ll be able to speak to a qualified mental health professional, at any time of the day. ❓What does this actually mean? The change means the NHS in England is one of the first countries in the world to offer access to a 24/7 full package of mental health crisis support through one single phone line! This is a great step in improving mental healthcare provision, with more and more people struggling with their mental health in recent times. ☎️ I saw the need for this enhancement firsthand. I recently tried to refer someone to a crisis team through 111 for the first time. I did not know about the process, so unfortunately it took me twice as long to get through to the crisis team, but I can see the benefits. This new system will simplify the process for patients, eliminating the need to search for different regional crisis numbers and reducing unnecessary delays - a big win for improving patient care. 🤔 However, I have to ask: Why do some crisis teams have nurses who aren't able to prescribe medications? Is this efficient? It seems that experienced nurses often end up asking patients to go back to their GP for prescriptions, like diazepam for anxiety or sleep issues. 🧑⚕️ Is this fair to the crisis team members, patients, or GPs? I’m interested to hear your thoughts and experiences on this topic. Has anyone else navigated crisis care through 111? 👀 How do you feel about the current prescribing practices in crisis teams? #gp #mentalhealth #NHS #mentalhealthworker #NHSGP

Big thank you to Kwame Opoku Fofie, Aimee, Richard, Gemma and the team at Humber Teaching NHS Foundation Trust PICU for their time and insights today. Psychiatric Intensive Care Units can be challenging environments. For patients who are very unwell, families who visit and the team who work there. By definition, these units support some of the poorliest people who often need specialist interventions to keep them safe as well as care to help them begin their recovery. This wasn’t my first visit to a PICU but I came away having learned much more about the interplay between mental health services, MOJ and community services. Pressures in one part of the system can inadvertently affect others with consequent knock on around occupancy levels and flow. Systems level conversations to mitigate this needs to be a core function of the ICB as it matures and brings in the necessary partners needed to improve the outcomes and lives of the people we care for. By necessity many PICU spaces can appear quite bare. There are strict design requirements that impact many of the aesthetic norms most of us take for granted. What jumped out at me in abundance today though was the compassion, leadership, passion and care from the people I spoke to. Culture and behaviours play a huge part in the safety and effectiveness of mental health care and today I left much assured that these were embedded within the team and at the forefront of people’s minds. #Humbelieveable #MentalHealth #Governance #Assurance

Northern Health Mental Health Division is bringing together medical, nursing, allied health, legal counsel and lived experience staff to discuss and redefine admission pathways for mental health consumers. Dr Daniel Crompton, Director, Emergency Services, Northern Health believes, “For too long now, mental health patients have had too few options in the community to seek help. Limited service availability means that many people living with mental illness receive care and support only at times of crisis. This has led to a risk-averse model of care in which people do not receive therapeutic and psychosocial supports and do not receive support early enough to aid recovery .” Dr Vinay Lakra, Divisional Director, Mental Health Division, Northern Health says, “Providing a timely and appropriate care for those who are acutely unwell with a psychiatric illness is very important as delays in treatment can lead to poorer outcomes. It requires a whole of system approach to provide high quality treatment including a focus on preventing relapses." Click here to book your spot : https://bit.ly/3S8mPCR #wearenorthern #safekindtogether #mentalhealth #conference #northernhealth

Giving people more choice and influence over their care and treatment in mental health hospitals is one of the main aims of the UK government’s planned reforms to the Mental Health Act. Advance Choice Documents (ACDs) are one means by which people can record care and treatment preferences for use in the future should they become unwell. As part of this work to reform the Mental Health Act, we were asked to examine what role advocacy services might play in supporting the implementation of ACDs in England. This week, we released the findings in our report: ‘The potential role of advocacy in supporting the use of ACD in mental health hospitals’. The headlines include: - Advocates felt ACDs would be a useful tool in promoting people’s preferences and supporting the person’s voice while in hospital. - However, their effectiveness would be dependent on ‘big cultural change’ in mental health hospitals. - Advocates wanted to know how they could be made aware of, and access, an ACD as part of the advocacy referral process. - Advocates felt that most people would likely complete an ACD after discharge when they return to the community. - Only people currently in hospital have a legal right to support from an independent mental health advocate, which limits how advocates can support people to complete ACDs. Read our full summary and the complete report in the link below. #MentalHealthAct #MentalHealthcare #MentalHealthReform #HealthAndSocialCare

🗓️ #EuropeanMentalHealthWeek, organised by Mental Health Europe has kicked off. 🔍 Today, we would like to spread awareness and address the correlation between violence against healthcare workers and mental health. 🌱 The mental wellbeing of healthcare professionals, especially nurses, is profoundly influenced by their work environment. ⚠️ A concerning link exists between the stress and trauma prevalent in healthcare settings and the mental health of healthcare professionals. 🎉 To celebrate the #EuropeanMentalHealthWeek and to endorse the initiative, we are launching our Mental Health Fact Sheet. 📊 This resource is grounded in policy discourse and the Health Management outlook, advocating for a proactive approach from health management to protect the wellbeing of healthcare workers and alleviate the risks associated with violence in healthcare settings. Download the Fact Sheet ➡️https://lnkd.in/dnxKhA2h #healthmanagement #mentalhealth #EUPHW2024 EUPHA - European Public Health Association Mental Health UK The Open Door Community Youth Network Inc. UNESSA asbl Stichting Steunpunt Geestelijke Zorg ADHD-Europe EPIONI | ΕΠΙΟΝΗ European Health and Digital Executive Agency (HaDEA) Mental Health 4U ESNO, European Specialist Nurses Organisation NURSES TO UK NHS

📣 Transforming Mental Health Support Access: Mindstep’s Mission in Partnership with the NHS 📣 Over the past few weeks, I’ve had the privilege of engaging in insightful conversations with NHS staff across the primary and secondary care spectrum. These discussions have amplified the critical nature of the challenges our healthcare system is enduring: the overwhelming demand for mental health services and the subsequent waiting lists that leave many without timely support. In particular, my conversations with primary care network managers have been eye opening. They shared a profound concern about the current state of patient access to mental health services, particularly for those needing immediate intervention and are instead deteriorating whilst waiting to be seen by overburdened mental health support services. On a positive note, after managers saw Mindstep’s platform and the overwhelmingly positive data from clinical studies, they believe that Mindstep has the potential to be a game changer, providing a transformative solution that can bridge the gap between the initial need for help and the availability of specialised care. The feedback we’ve received has been overwhelmingly positive and has strengthened our resolve to make a real difference. At Mindstep, our mission is to deliver innovative, accessible mental health support that meets the needs of all individuals, regardless of where they are in their mental health journey. By integrating our platform into the existing NHS framework, we aim to enhance patient outcomes and ensure that everyone has access to the care they need, when they need it. The discussions with NHS staff have not only affirmed our direction but also highlighted the urgent need for solutions like Mindstep in the current healthcare landscape. As we continue to collaborate with healthcare professionals across the UK, our goal remains clear: to reduce waiting times, provide immediate support, and ultimately, improve the mental health and wellbeing of the population. Together, we can create a more responsive and compassionate mental health care system. Thank you to everyone who has supported and believed in our vision. Let’s continue to innovate and bring about the change we all want to see. #Mindstep #MentalHealthInnovation #NHSPartnership #HealthcareTransformation #MentalHealthSupport #PrimaryCare #SecondaryCare #PatientOutcomes