Major review recommends new way forward
for key mental health professionals
A major review of mental health nursing was published yesterday
by Health Minister Rosie Winterton and Chief Nursing Officer Christine
Beasley.
The review recommends key actions needed for nurses to be able to improve
the care of people with mental health problems, for example by providing
more psychological therapies and by promoting physical wellbeing.
The review, "From Values to Action", is the result of a
major consultation exercise launched last year in the context of government
reforms such as "Choosing Health", "Delivering Race
Equality" and the draft Mental Health Bill. As the largest professional
group in mental health services, mental health nurses play a vital
role in delivering these reforms and it is important that their career
structure reflects that.
Some key recommendations of the review were:
- Mental health Nurses (MHNs) should focus on the wider needs of
the patient, using their skills to improve physical well-being through
better assessment and health promotion activities, and by providing
more psychological therapies
- Inpatient care should be improved by increasing the time MHNs
spend in direct clinical contact with service users and minimising
the
time
they spend on administrative roles
- Career structures for MHNs should be reviewed according to local
needs and a range of new nursing roles developed and supported
- MHNs should promote social inclusion for service users and their
carers
- The recruitment and retention of MHNs needs to be improved
through initiatives such as linking with schools and colleges
and presenting
positive messages about mental health to the media.
Rosie Winterton said:
" Mental health nurses have always been a vital part of effective
mental health services and in recent years they have played an absolutely
key part in the ongoing transformation of mental health services.
_ The time is right to build on these
improvements and to provide mental health nurses with a new direction
and clear future role in
order to deliver government reforms such as the Mental Health Bill,
personalised care and choice.
_ As mental health nursing improves,
service users will see the benefits."
Christine Beasley said:
" I am delighted that mental health nurses are leading the way
in working with users and carers in developing a system fit for the
twenty-first century. This report aims to help mental health nurses,
their organisations and professional leaders put in place the practical
changes that will make a difference to service users. I want this review
to be used on the ground to shape everyday practice wherever care is
given to mental health service users and their families.
_ I would like to thank all those
who contributed to this work and particularly the service users and
carers who gave up their valuable
time to tell us their stories, share their ideas and remind us what
we are all here for."
National director for mental health Professor Louis Appleby said:
" Mental health nursing is at the heart of modern healthcare.
Through the development of new roles, such as prescribing, and new
skills in areas such as physical wellbeing, mental health nurses are
at the forefront of changes in how services provide for the needs of
people with mental health problems. All mental health professionals
are having to rethink the part they will play in the services of the
future. This report sets out an optimistic and ambitious vision of
a confident and responsive nursing profession."
A wide range of professional and other organisations support the review
and its recommendations.
The Mental Health Nurses’ Association, Royal College of Nursing
and UNISON said :
" Service users consulted have been clear about what they
value and what they want from us. We now face the challenge of meeting
those
expectations."
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