Background information, recommendations actions and tools to improve the quality of services within acute trusts for those living with serious mental illness (SMI).
There is an urgent need to support acute hospitals to improve understanding and change culture with regard to mental health. We need to ensure these public bodies meet their duties to those living with a ‘protected characteristic’ under equalities legislation and guidance. A number of recent reports (including the National Confidential Enquiry into Patient Outcome and Death (NCEPOD) report into Mental Health in General Hospitals: Treat as One) have highlighted a range of shortfalls across both mental health and acute trusts. This includes lack of identification and recording of mental health conditions, which affects the way people with SMI access and benefit from care within these settings.
Recommended actions to take
Changes are needed at commissioning, organisational and operational levels to ensure that mental health needs are considered across all services and levels of care.
These recommendations are specific to acute care providers and commissioners, and should be read in conjunction with the actions set out in the ‘All providers’ section of these resources.
Follow the links for more information and tools to support you:
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Tagged: serious mental illness (SMI), stolen years