Equity and empowerment are key to Wales strategy

Mental Health Nursing,  Nov/Dec 2001  by Pollock, Laurence

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The National Assembly in Cardiff has unveiled the adult mental health strategy for Wales.

Health minister Jane Hutt also announced the first ever all-- Wales strategy to improve child and adolescent mental health services.

The adult strategy includes four key principles:

* Equity - mental health services should be available to all and allocated according to need.

* Empowerment - user and their carers to be integrally involved in planning, development and delivery of mental health services.

* Effectiveness - mental health services should provide effective interventions that improve quality of life.

* Efficiency - mental health services must use resources efficiently and be accountable for the way money is spent.

The new strategy will be issued as guidance for mental health services. Their performance will be measured against the standards it sets.

An implementation group will be set up with representation from all sectors to report to Jane Hutt on progress in rolling out its recommendations across Wales.

Jane Hutt said: "This strategy is the result of the widest ever consultation on mental health issues in Wales.

"I believe it will radically change services by moving away from a purely clinical model of treatment towards a more inclusive approach that promotes and supports normal lifestyles and integration to local communities. It will be an approach where the views of those who use mental health services and those who care for them will be taken fully into account."

The Strategy for Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services, entitled Everybody's Business, promotes a partnership approach across the health, social care, education and voluntary sectors to ensure that children receive appropriate services at all levels.

The strategy was drawn up after consultation on a draft produced by an independent advisory group, with members drawn from all relevant professions.

The main points are child-- centred services: good interagency working;a needs assessment for Wales and a strengthened role for the voluntary sector. An implementation group will produce detailed costings.

Peter Meredith-Smith, mental health nursing officer at the National Assembly for Wales told the recent Wales CPNA conference that the adult strategy would `act as a blueprint for a modern profession that is valued by patients, carers and colleagues because of the unique contribution that its members make to mental healthcare.'

Phil Brace, deputy CPNA chair for Wales welcomed the strategy but called for a genuine commitment of resources to ensure that services were effective and accessible.

* The January-February issue will carry a detailed critique of the adult strategy

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