News
New NHS safe staffing framework for mental health wards published
NHS England has launched a new practical guide to help ensure the right people with the right skills are recruited into the right inpatient mental health settings. The Mental Health Staffing Framework, which focuses on inpatient care, was commissioned as part of the NHS England’s ‘Compassion in Practice programme’. It was developed by an independent […]
Huge response to mental health taskforce survey
The recently established Mental Health Taskforce has received an astonishing response to its call for the views of service users, their families and professionals who work in mental health. As he talks at the NHS Confederation annual conference in Liverpool today, Paul Farmer, the independent chair of the mental health taskforce and Chief Executive of […]
London GP mental health scheme helps hundreds, skills up primary care staff and saves thousands
More than 600 people now visit their GP instead of the hospital for regular physical and mental health checks thanks to a successful London scheme saving the NHS thousands. Across Newham CCG’s 61 surgeries four teams Community Psychiatric Nurses (CPNs) are on stand-by to see patients with stable severe mental illnesses who have opted into […]
Thousands of women confront mental health issues in thriving community perinatal scheme
Thousands of pregnant women have confronted mental health issues before they become more serious thanks to a thriving perinatal mental health service in Devon. Since it began five years ago the ten-strong Devon and Torbay Perinatal Health Team has identified, supported or signposted thousands of women who needed mental health support. Now, all of the […]
Mental health staff working with police and courts now cover half of England
Half of the country is now covered by a new service to make sure people with mental health conditions, learning disabilities or other vulnerabilities such as debt or homelessness are supported in police custody and the courts. Sixteen new ‘Liaison and Diversion’ (L&D) teams are now up and running, bringing the total to 26 schemes […]
Thousands of patients could be saved thanks to Bradford scheme
Thousands of people with serious mental illness (SMI) could now be saved from an early death thanks to an innovative scheme in Bradford helping to lead the parity of esteem agenda. A new system is being used across Bradford and Airedale in 80 GP surgeries with 5,000 patients with serious mental illness; across five new […]
Major new taskforce launched to chart roadmap for services and priorities over next five years
Seize the moment for major improvements in mental health and wellbeing says Stevens The tide of public opinion is shifting in favour of dramatically improved mental health services, Simon Stevens says as he launches a new taskforce to forge change. As signalled in the NHS Five Year Forward View, a new Taskforce is being established […]
NHS Mental Health Apps Library to increase access to psychological therapies and help to improve mental health outcomes
NHS England will today (24 March) launch a ground breaking initiative to help treat depression and anxiety and improve access to psychological therapies by unveiling the first ever directory of NHS-endorsed digital mental health services. The Mental Health Apps Library will go live at 12.00pm and feature online tools, resources and apps that have a proven […]
NHS England welcomes new plans for radical shake up of youth mental health care
NHS England has welcomed plans for a radical shake up of youth mental health care to be announced today by MP Norman Lamb (Tuesday). Care and Support Minister Mr Lamb will say that children and young people’s mental health services need a complete overhaul to stop vulnerable young people missing out on vital support. Following […]
It’s time for a change on dementia too
As part of Change Day, NHS England is supporting “John’s Campaign” which supports people with dementia. The campaign calls for family and carers of people with dementia to be allowed to remain with them in hospital for as many hours of the day and night as necessary. Campaigners point to the difference between the treatment […]