scholarly journals Service evaluation of the mental health assessment service (MHAS) in Dudley, West Midlands

BJPsych Open ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (S1) ◽  
pp. S356-S356
Author(s):  
Mark Winchester ◽  
Amitav Narula ◽  
Rachel Davis ◽  
Ella McGowan
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Primary Care ◽  
Care Pathway ◽  
Single Point ◽  
Good Practice ◽  
Health Assessment ◽  
Service Evaluation ◽  
Good Communication ◽  
Service Specification ◽  
Referral Form

AimsTo assess how well MHAS meets the service specificationTo ascertain areas of good practiceTo examine whether the referral form is being used in an appropriate mannerTo elucidate areas of good communication and whether any improvement can be madeBackgroundLaunched in 2012, MHAS is the single point of access service for mental health services for patients aged 16–65 years, with a general practitioner (GP) in Dudley, who are not currently open to secondary care. Assessments are completed by a medic, community psychiatric nurse or jointly. It aims to identify the most appropriate care pathway for patients. This audit was a comprehensive assessment of how effective MHAS is at ensuring patients are adequately triaged.Method10 cases from each month between April 2018 and March 2019 were randomly selected from all 980 anonymised MHAS referrals. A proforma was developed based on current practice, previous audits and service specification. A team of four doctors assisted in the data collection and only electronic health records (EHR) were reviewed.Result88.3% of referrals were recorded on the EHR. Only 61.7% of referrals used the proforma with the other referrals mostly being in the form of a letter, which often missed out information vital to the triaging process. Only 4.2% of referrals are from Primary Care Mental Health Nurses (PCMHN) with 85.8% arising from GPs. Urgent referrals were not discussed with MHAS via telephone contact in about 60% of cases. The majority of patients had telephone screening completed the same day and were then discussed the next working day at the daily referral meeting. Although a brief summary for the GP was being sent the same day in all cases, over half of the comprehensive assessments were not being sent within the five day timeframe.ConclusionAll referrals must be uploaded to the EHR and completed using the service's proforma. PCMHNs may be currently under-utilised or effectively doing their jobs at managing mental health patients in primary care. GPs regularly referring via letter require further training and support to use the proforma. The proforma may require simplification to make it easier to complete. The service specification requires review as it makes unrealistic demands of the service. All referrals must be discussed at the daily referral meeting. Further investigation is required to understand why MHAS is struggling to meet timeframes for appointments and letters.

scholarly journals Delivering race equality in mental health services

2008 ◽  
Vol 14 (5) ◽  
pp. 326-329 ◽  
Author(s):  
Annie Lau
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Care Pathway ◽  
Action Plan ◽  
Good Practice ◽  
Mental Healthcare ◽  
Policy Initiatives ◽  
Pilot Survey ◽  
The Past ◽  
Department Of Health ◽  
Clinical Engagement

‘Delivering race equality’ is a 5-year action plan for tackling race inequalities in mental healthcare in England and Wales, based on the main themes of improved services, better community engagement and better information. The perception is that clinical teams have not been sufficiently engaged with the plan and progress is slow. This article shares insights from the author's work across government departments over the past 2 years and explores the potential for linking up different initiatives across the patient care pathway in support of the plan's delivery. A summary of conclusions from a pilot survey of consultant psychiatrists, commissioned by the Department of Health in June 2007, addresses the main controversial areas in the action plan, with suggestions for improvement. Areas for clinical engagement are identified that exploit new funding, investment and policy initiatives. Examples of good practice are offered.

Blackburn with Darwen mental health assessment and treatment team – A service evaluation report

2016 ◽  
Vol 33 (S1) ◽  
pp. S563-S563
Author(s):  
V. Damle ◽  
N. Bhandary
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Mental Health Services ◽  
Health Services ◽  
Health Assessment ◽  
Service Evaluation ◽  
Treatment Team ◽  
Mental Health Assessment ◽  
Mental Health Referrals ◽  
Assessment And Treatment ◽  
Competing Interest

IntroductionAssessment and Treatment Team (ATT) was developed to manage mental health referrals within the borough of Blackburn with Darwen (BwD). The ATT became the main point of initial referral and assessment for adults presenting with mental health needs. It acts as the gateway service for access to specialist mental health services.AimTo evaluate the effectiveness of ATT against the key performance indicators.MethodsQuantitative data was collected using electronic database from June 2014–May 2015. Feedback was obtained from GPs and also from patients who attended ATT over a one-week period.ResultsThe ATT received a total of 2234 referrals. A total of 73% were seen within 10 working days of the referral. Assessment outcome letters were sent to the GPs within 48 h in 47.53% cases. Referral rates to community mental health and Crisis teams were 7% each showing an overall reduction compared to the previous service. GP satisfaction – 70% were ‘moderately satisfied’ and 30% were ‘very satisfied’ with ATT. Hundred percent felt the service was easily accessible and 90% felt that the staff were friendly. Patient Satisfaction – 96% of patients rated the team as ‘friendly and polite’. Eighty-seven percent reported that they were listened to and 91% felt their concerns were understood. Eighty-three percent felt that ATT involved them in their decision making. Ninety-two percent responded that they were likely/extremely likely to recommend ATT to their friends and family.ConclusionsThe establishment of ATT has led to improved satisfaction among GPs and service users and has resulted in reduction in referrals to secondary mental health services.Disclosure of interestThe authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.

Mental health assessment and triage in an ambulance clinical contact centre

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (5) ◽  
pp. 196-203
Author(s):  
Hannah Briggs ◽  
Stephen Clarke ◽  
Nigel Rees
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Health Assessment ◽  
Service Evaluation ◽  
Mental Health Assessment ◽  
Support Tools ◽  
Health Related ◽  
Contact Centre ◽  
Low Levels ◽  
Triage Algorithm ◽  
And Training

Background: With increasing numbers of emergency calls to ambulance services, exploration of the triage and management of mental health calls is valuable, given their volume and duration. Studies have explored these calls from patient and practitioner perspectives, but few have considered the perspective of the practitioners assessing patients over the phone in terms of clinical capability. Aim: This study aimed to explore the thoughts, feelings and educational requirements of paramedics and nurses working on emergency medical services clinical desks, focusing on mental health-related calls and the triage tools used. Methods: A service evaluation was conducted. A questionnaire was developed and distributed to 41 staff on clinical desks at the Welsh Ambulance Service Trust's (WAST) clinical contact centres in June 2019. Quantitative data was analysed using descriptive statistics and qualitative data by thematic analysis. Findings: Out of the 41 employees, 26 (63%) responded. Low levels of confidence were reported in managing mental health calls, along with inadequate detail in the mental health elements of their triage algorithm and deficiencies in referral pathways. Conclusion: Given the volume and complexity of mental health calls to ambulance services, more attention should be paid to the education and training of clinical desk professionals and the decision support tools available in WAST and other ambulance services. Further research is required with a larger sample size over multiple ambulance services.

Mental health

2014 ◽  
pp. 985-1018
Author(s):  
Chantal Simon ◽  
Hazel Everitt ◽  
Françoise van Dorp ◽  
Matt Burkes
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Primary Care ◽  
Eating Disorders ◽  
Chronic Stress ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
Health Assessment ◽  
Psychological Conditions ◽  
Mental Health Assessment ◽  
Psychological Therapies ◽  
Symptoms And Signs

Mental health assessment Mental health symptoms and signs Psychological therapies Anxiety Other anxiety-type disorders Chronic stress Depression Drugs for treating depression Psychosis Schizophrenia and mania Acute delirium Dementia Eating disorders Other psychological conditions Assessing a patient with mental health problems in primary care can be challenging. Aims (may need >1 appointment to achieve):...

scholarly journals Validation and feasibility of the Global Mental Health Assessment Tool--Primary Care Version (GMHAT/PC) in older adults

2010 ◽  
Vol 39 (4) ◽  
pp. 496-499 ◽  
Author(s):  
V. K. Sharma ◽  
M. Krishna ◽  
P. Lepping ◽  
V. Palanisamy ◽  
S. V. Kallumpuram ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
Primary Care ◽  
Assessment Tool ◽  
Global Mental Health ◽  
Health Assessment ◽  
Mental Health Assessment

scholarly journals Epidemilogical and clincial use of GMHAT-PC ( Global Mental Health assessment tool- primary care )in cardiac patients

2009 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. 7 ◽  
Author(s):  
Murali Krishna ◽  
Peter Lepping ◽  
Vimal K Sharma ◽  
John R M Copeland ◽  
Lorraine Lockwood ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Primary Care ◽  
Assessment Tool ◽  
Global Mental Health ◽  
Health Assessment ◽  
Cardiac Patients ◽  
Mental Health Assessment

scholarly journals Audit of physical health monitoring on admission to Mill Lodge (CAMHS Inpatient Unit, York)

BJPsych Open ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (S1) ◽  
pp. S352-S352
Author(s):  
Andreea Steiu ◽  
Emma Diggins ◽  
Nagulan Thevarajan
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Young People ◽  
Physical Examination ◽  
Physical Health ◽  
Health Assessment ◽  
Health Problems ◽  
Inpatient Unit ◽  
Junior Doctors ◽  
Blood Tests ◽  
Service Specification

AimsThis audit aimed to evaluate the standard of initial physical health assessment that young people receive on admission to Mill Lodge.Adherence to recommendation 2.6.3 of the service specification for Tier 4 CAMHS was assessed. Standard 2.6.3 of the service specification for Tier 4 child and adolescent mental health services states that “on admission all young people must have an initial assessment (including a risk assessment) and care-plan completed within 24 hours. Where admission is for day/in-patient care this will include a physical examination.” In line with this standard this audit will evaluate the use of physical examination, baseline blood tests and ECG carried out on young people.BackgroundMental health problems in children and young people are associated with both short- and long-term physical health problems. It is therefore important that they undergo full physical health assessment on admission to a Tier 4 inpatient unit.MethodElectronic records were reviewed for all patients admitted within a 6 months period, between 1st August 2018 and 1st February 2019. Data were collected in March 2019 and entered directly into an excel spread sheet designed for data collection. A total of 23 patients were identified for inclusion in this audit.Simple statistical analysis was carried out using excel.ResultOver 80% of patients who did not refuse had a completed physical examination (85%), blood results recorded (82%) and ECG (84%) within the first 24 hours of their admission. 100% of patients who did not refuse had bloods and ECG checked at some time during their admission, with 90% having a physical examination.For several patients (3 physical examination, 2 bloods, 3 ECG), no reason was documented as to why the procedure or examination did not take place. For 1 patient, blood tests were delayed due to having no blood tubes available.ConclusionTaken into account the result of this audit and bearing in mind the importance of physical examination as part of the admission process, it is important to try and support both regular Mill Lodge staff and on-call junior doctors to follow Standard 2.6.3's guidance around physical examination on admission to hospital. While good results were seen in many areas, the ward is not yet achieving the standard of 100%. A re-audit will take place in twelve months’ time to review recommendation and compliance.

scholarly journals Accessing good communication – Deaf children in a mental health assessment

2020 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Health Assessment ◽  
Deaf Children ◽  
Good Communication ◽  
Mental Health Assessment ◽  
Good Mental Health

In order for a good mental health assessment to take place there has to be good communication between the two people in the interaction. Prof Barry Wright explains the implications for deaf children.

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