NEWS
RCN signs up to ‘999 plan’ aimed at improving delivery of crisis care The RCN is one of 22 organisations to have signed a national agreement on improving co-operation between the NHS and the police on the care of people in a mental health crisis. Care and support minister Norman Lamb last week launched the agreement, known as the Crisis Care Concordat, which is intended to improve the care of people who are in mental health crisis, for example having suicidal thoughts or severe anxiety. More than 8,600 people in crisis were inappropriately placed in police custody in 2011/12 according to the Department of Health. Mr Lamb wants to halve this number in 2014/15 and tackle the variation in standards across England. He expects mental health trusts, police and paramedics in England to sign local agreements by December. ‘Urgent and compassionate care in a safe place is essential – a police cell should never need to be used because mental health services are not available,’ he said. RCN mental health adviser Ian Hulatt said nurses’ involvement in
People in mental health crisis will be provided help as a matter of urgency
ALAMY
By Jennifer Sprinks
the local agreements will be crucial. ‘This agreement is important and will have long-term significance for mental health crisis care,’ he said. ‘It shows there is recognition that mental health crisis requires a different approach.’
Urgent help
The Care Quality Commission (CQC), the charity Mind and the Association of Chief Police Officers have also signed the agreement.
Nurse leaders hope to head for Harvard More than 250 nurses and doctors have applied to a fast-track hospital leadership programme that will take them to Harvard University in the United States. From June, 35 nurses and doctors and 15 private sector business leaders will begin a ten-month training programme to prepare for senior management or chief executive roles in NHS hospitals. Nurses will be seconded to the scheme on their current salary package. The £10 million programme, run by the NHS Leadership Academy, was
NURSING STANDARD
announced last year as part of a package of measures to strengthen leadership at failing hospitals, following a review by NHS medical director Sir Bruce Keogh. The academy is also inviting applications from front line nurses in bands 5 to 7 for a six-month nursing and midwifery leadership programme. The programme will be run by the academy’s ten centres across England, with the first cohorts in each region beginning in April. For information go to tinyurl.com/frontlinenursing
Mind chief executive Paul Farmer said provision of crisis care services is patchy, adding: ‘The concordat is the 999 plan for mental health. It should mean that anyone in mental health crisis gets urgent and appropriate help.’ Under the concordat, local areas will ensure healthcare organisations have beds available around the clock, as well as a dedicated 24-hour helpline, so that using police custody can be avoided. Police will be informed about how quickly healthcare professionals can respond when people with mental health problems are detained and local services will share a person’s information, including history of physical violence, self-harm or drink or drug misuse, the concordat says. The CQC is calling on people who have experienced mental health crisis to share their experiences of care and support as part of a review of care in England it launched last week. Findings from the survey are expected to be published later this year. To give feedback, go to www.cqc.org.uk/mentalhealthcrisis february 26 :: vol 28 no 26 :: 2014 13
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RCN signs up to ‘999 plan’ aimed at improving delivery of crisis care The RCN is one of 22 organisations to have signed a national agreement on improving co-operation between the NHS and the police on the care of people in a mental health crisis. Care and support minister Norman Lamb last week launched the agreement, known as the Crisis Care Concordat, which is intended to improve the care of people who are in mental health crisis, for example having suicidal thoughts or severe anxiety. More than 8,600 people in crisis were inappropriately placed in police custody in 2011/12 according to the Department of Health. Mr Lamb wants to halve this number in 2014/15 and tackle the variation in standards across England. He expects mental health trusts, police and paramedics in England to sign local agreements by December. ‘Urgent and compassionate care in a safe place is essential – a police cell should never need to be used because mental health services are not available,’ he said. RCN mental health adviser Ian Hulatt said nurses’ involvement in
People in mental health crisis will be provided help as a matter of urgency
ALAMY
By Jennifer Sprinks
the local agreements will be crucial. ‘This agreement is important and will have long-term significance for mental health crisis care,’ he said. ‘It shows there is recognition that mental health crisis requires a different approach.’
Urgent help
The Care Quality Commission (CQC), the charity Mind and the Association of Chief Police Officers have also signed the agreement.
Nurse leaders hope to head for Harvard More than 250 nurses and doctors have applied to a fast-track hospital leadership programme that will take them to Harvard University in the United States. From June, 35 nurses and doctors and 15 private sector business leaders will begin a ten-month training programme to prepare for senior management or chief executive roles in NHS hospitals. Nurses will be seconded to the scheme on their current salary package. The £10 million programme, run by the NHS Leadership Academy, was
NURSING STANDARD
announced last year as part of a package of measures to strengthen leadership at failing hospitals, following a review by NHS medical director Sir Bruce Keogh. The academy is also inviting applications from front line nurses in bands 5 to 7 for a six-month nursing and midwifery leadership programme. The programme will be run by the academy’s ten centres across England, with the first cohorts in each region beginning in April. For information go to tinyurl.com/frontlinenursing
Mind chief executive Paul Farmer said provision of crisis care services is patchy, adding: ‘The concordat is the 999 plan for mental health. It should mean that anyone in mental health crisis gets urgent and appropriate help.’ Under the concordat, local areas will ensure healthcare organisations have beds available around the clock, as well as a dedicated 24-hour helpline, so that using police custody can be avoided. Police will be informed about how quickly healthcare professionals can respond when people with mental health problems are detained and local services will share a person’s information, including history of physical violence, self-harm or drink or drug misuse, the concordat says. The CQC is calling on people who have experienced mental health crisis to share their experiences of care and support as part of a review of care in England it launched last week. Findings from the survey are expected to be published later this year. To give feedback, go to www.cqc.org.uk/mentalhealthcrisis february 26 :: vol 28 no 26 :: 2014 13
Downloaded from RCNi.com by ${individualUser.displayName} on Nov 21, 2015. For personal use only. No other uses without permission. Copyright © 2015 RCNi Ltd. All rights reserved.
