A new resource with tools for commissioning effective mental health services for children and young people has been published. NHS England has published the new model specification for Children and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) targeted and specialist services (tiers 2 and 3) which treat patients with a range of emotional and behavioural difficulties such […]

Patients using mental health and community health services are able to give feedback on their experiences of care and treatment from today (Thursday, 1 January, 2015). This comes as the Friends and Family Test (FFT), a real time patient feedback tool that is already operating for some hospital services such as maternity and A&E, continues […]

NHS England’s top dementia doctor says cutting back on alcohol to protect your mental health is a good 2015 resolution. Prevention is something everyone can help with as the NHS tackles the growing issue of dementia, says Professor Alistair Burns, NHS England’s National Clinical Director for Dementia. He said a number of research studies* showed […]

NHS England has published updated guidance to help commissioners, GPs and providers support mental health patients exercising their legal rights to choose who provides their care and treatment. This follows extensive consultation on the interim guidance published earlier this year. In April 2014 the Government established for people with mental health conditions the same legal right […]

Eight pilot schemes set to lead the way in innovating change to services for children and young people with mental health issues have scooped a share of a £500k fund. Pilots in NEW Devon, Derbyshire, Newcastle, Tameside and Glossop, Norfolk, Southampton, Wolverhampton and South Sefton have all been awarded up to £75k to develop their plans. […]

Another thirteen trial schemes are to launch in April 2015 to place mental health professionals in police stations and courts.  These schemes aim to ensure people who come into the criminal justice system with mental health conditions, learning disabilities and other vulnerabilities are recognised and are promptly referred into health and other services to get […]

Dementia is a clinical syndrome and at one level simply implies brain failure (analogous to heart failure or liver failure). The diagnosis is a two stage process. First, to make a diagnosis of dementia you need to differentiate it from: depression; delirium; the effect of drugs and; the changes in memory expected as part of […]

NHS England has welcomed better portrayals of mental health in prime time TV storylines after a report showed the subject being covered more authentically and more often. The report ‘Making a drama out of a crisis’ was launched by Time to Change, the anti-stigma campaign run by Mind and Rethink Mental Illness. It comes as Coronation Street’s […]

Seven new ‘ambassadors’ are to begin spreading the word about the importance of diagnosing more patients with dementia in a bid to help improve patients’ and their carers’ quality of life. The seven, who are based in London, the south, the north, the midlands, and Scotland, will be helping local GPs in England to use […]

NHS England has welcomed the announcement that easy to access ratings for mental health hospitals will be published on MyNHS from today. Dr Geraldine Strathdee, NHS England National Clinical Director for Mental Health, said it was “excellent news the public would now be able to see key information on their local service in a central […]