Mental Health Could Be Improved By Three-Point Plan In Wake Of Healthcare Commission Report, UK

Main Category: Mental Health
Also Included In: Psychology / Psychiatry
Article Date: 24 Jul 2008 - 3:00 PDT

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A three-point plan to improve mental health services in England has been proposed today by Unite, the country's largest union.

The template for action follows stinging criticism of the mental health system by the Healthcare Commission. One finding revealed that 45% of psychiatric nurses and 15% of patients had been physically attacked in the last year.

Unite, which embraces the Mental Health Nurses Association, called for:

• greater investment in terms of facilities, as well as staff support and training
• the real need to establish national standards for in-patient care for facilities, as well as staffing levels
• to reinforce the need for closer and more integrated links between different parts of the mental health service.

Lead Officer for Mental Health, Unite Health Sector, Brian Rogers said: 'Unfortunately, many of the criticisms in the report could have been anticipated. However, we believe that if the basic principles we have outlined were adopted strategically, this would have a beneficial effect in the wards.'

'We know there is massive variation in the standards of care services not just in England but throughout the UK. While there have been significant targets set on the numbers and nature of specialist community services, similar targets have not been set for in-patient services.'

'A great deal of good work has been done, especially by mental health nurses, in terms of bringing the highest level of care and service to in-patient services, however it is clear that issues such as staff shortages, particularly amongst the most experienced and senior grades, and poor standards of patient accommodation, with many older units "not fit for purpose", have not been addressed.'

'There is an over-dependence on more junior staff, often healthcare assistants, and there does seem to be a direct correlation between the level of violence and how experienced staff are - the more junior staff facing an increased risk of violence.'

'With the continual reduction in beds there comes the very real risk of overcrowding and a higher than safe bed occupancy rate. The levels of mental ill health required to get a bed have dramatically increased, so the levels of distress and disturbance has been increasing.'

'Experienced staff in hospitals are now attracted by a career move into community services. Their skills are very much valued in many of the intensive home treatment services in the community, and such a move reduces the level of stress that these nurses experience.'

Unite is the largest union in the UK. It has seven professional sections: the Community Practitioners' and Health Visitors' Association, the Mental Health Nurses Association, the Guild of Healthcare Pharmacists, the Society of Sexual Health Advisers, the Medical Practitioners' Union, College of Healthcare Chaplains, and the Hospital Physicists Association.

Unite was formed by an amalgamation of Amicus and the Transport and General Workers' Union in May 2007.

http://www.unitetheunion.com