In a first for the UK, mental health patient groups, NHS service providers and staff groups have come together today to launch the first national declaration for people with a mental health crisis.
This recognises that improving acute mental health services (both community and inpatients) needs to remain a key national priority. It aims to build on the recognised progress which has been made in recent years.
The declaration sets out that people who are acutely ill should receive safe high quality care in a comfortable environment. The organisations will work together to achieve this by focusing on integrating people back into
their everyday lives while also setting out the need to promote a more positive image of mental illness.
Key to the success of the declaration will be the development of an acute specialist workforce with the right skills and attitudes and a culture of enquiry and service improvement based on evidence and regular service user and carer feedback.
The declaration will be launched at the Mental Health Network Annual Conference in Birmingham today. More than ten different national organisations have already signed up to the declaration to work together to ensure that people with mental health problems, who are acutely ill, receive the services they need at the time of their greatest vulnerability.
The declaration is supported by Mind, the National Patient Safety Agency, Star Wards, Rethink, the Royal College of Nursing, Royal College of Psychiatrists, Royal College of GPs, The Sainsbury Centre for Mental Health, The British Psychological Society, College of Occupational Therapists, the National Mental Health Development Unit and the Mental Health Network. Following this initial launch, regional events will be organised to develop local action plans
The declaration covers five areas
- Tackling stigma
- Promote recovery and inclusion
- Commissioning and providing better care
- Support the development of specialist workforce
- Promote research and development
To read more and to download a copy of the declaration, visit www.acutecareprogramme.org.uk
Commenting on the launch of the declaration, Steve Shrubb said:
"Mental health services and inpatient units have improved, and changed, a great deal over the last few years. Many providers offer excellent quality care but we need to make this the norm across the board.
"We know now what good looks like so in conjunction with service user and staff groups from across the NHS, the declaration defines what we should be aiming for while making sure that we build on the improvements we have
made."
Dr Peter Carter of the RCN said:
"Mental health nurses are highly skilled and able to make a difference in contemporary services that are designed and resourced to meet the needs of those they care for. In acute care, this means not only clients but carers and families. We are therefore very pleased to endorse this declaration, and to commend it to the providers and commissioners of mental health services."
Paul Jenkins, chief executive of Rethink said:
"Despite improvements we know that high quality inpatient care is not always there when people need it. We welcome the declaration as a systematic attempt to raise standards."
Professor Dinesh Bhugra, President of the Royal College of Psychiatrists, said:
"Our patients need and deserve high-quality acute mental health services which are both geographically and emotionally accessible. This can only be achieved by all mental health professionals working together. That's why the Royal College of Psychiatrists is delighted to be endorsing this declaration and pledging its commitment to continuing to drive up standards along with so many other organisations."
Marion Jenner, founder of the Star Wards programme, said:
"Through extensive consultation, and really listening to the views of patients, carers and staff, the Declaration brilliantly and succinctly captures the heart of great inpatient services. There are already many, many wards achieving these standards and the momentum and commitment already generated will help ensure that all wards can provide truly
therapeutic experiences for those of us needing them."
Genevieve Smyth, Professional Affairs Officer for Mental Health & Learning Disabilities at the College of Occupational Therapists said:
"The College of Occupational Therapists is delighted to support this declaration as the acute care pathway serves a vital part of responsive mental health care. Occupational therapists continue to ensure that service users can benefit from therapeutic activity and maintain links with their normal roles and responsibilities when they are often at the most
vulnerable time of their recovery journey. This declaration will help focus all involved on what has sometimes felt like a neglected aspect of care."
Ian McPherson, director of the National Mental Health Development Unit said:
"The Acute Care Declaration reflects a real commitment to improving the experience of people with mental health problems at a point when they are in need of the highest level of support. The National Mental Health Development Unit are pleased to have contributed to the development of this in partnership with the NHS Confederation and the range of leading organisations who have already endorsed the Declaration.
We will continue to work with them to support both providers and commissioners of mental health services turn the values of the Declaration into practical outcomes that address the needs of those who use these services and those who care for them."
Antony Deery, head of mental health operations at the Care Quality Commission (CQC) said:
"CQC strongly supports the commitments within this declaration as key drivers for improvement in acute mental health care. Many of the points chime with our priorities for mental health, especially the need for organisations to continuously develop their capacity and capability for delivering high quality care and to focus on the recovery outcomes service users are seeking to achieve. We hope that both commissioners and providers will use the declaration to further stimulate improvement in their local services."
