News update brief

Mental Health Nursing,  Jul 2003  

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Brain scandal

Human brains were retained for research without the knowledge of bereaved relatives a shocking new report has revealed. Former health secretary Alan Milburn, asked Dr Jeremy Metters to investigate the case of Cyril Isaacs, who committed suicide after suffering depression in 1987. Dr Metiers found Mr Isaacs' brain was kept as part of a system in the Manchester area.

At least 20,000 brains were taken without consent for research after death the report says. Dr Metters, Her Majesty's inspector of anatomy, said this represented only those brains still held by hospitals and universities in England and many more could have been taken without permission and since destroyed.

Broadmoor transfer

A Broadmoor patient with 'extremely disruptive behaviour' is to be moved to a mainstream prison because his personality disorder is said to be 'unbeatable'.

Philip Bradley, 35 threatened to slit the throat of his nurse. he has been in secure hospitals for almost 20 years. A judge at Reading crown court agreed that he be sentenced to two years in a mainstream jail, at his own request and that of the doctors at the high-security hospital.

Barnaby Jameson, defending, said: This man is not treatable. Reports from Broadmoor say there is nothing more they can do for him. He says he wants an opportunity in mainstream custody to show that he is capable of neither harming himself or others. In Broadmoor he is going nowhere.'

Durham accolade

A multi-sensory room and garden at County Durham and Darlington Priority Services NHS Trust has been identified as an area of notable practice.

The Commission for Health Improvement, in its recent report, says the trust provides strong leadership and staff are highly committed to delivering a high quality of care. CHI added: 'Most people using the trust's services are happy with the treatment they receive and some of the newer accommodation provides excellent facilities for service users.'

Dementia conference

A European conference on dementia, 'New Directions in Dementia' aims to increase the awareness of Dementia in general and offer a forum where planners, managers, practitioners and academics from across Europe can share good practice, knowledge, skills and research. It will be held at Liverpool's Maritime Museum on the 9 October. PSS is a dynamic charity that develops innovations in social care for disadvantaged groups within society. For more information contact Joanna Robinson at joanna@evensis.com or on 0151 7269002.

Anti-depressant claims

A drug company has been found to have broken the pharmaceutical industry's code of practice five times by claiming that its antidepressant is better than its out-of-patent drug from which the new product is derived.

Lundbeck, based in Denmark, put escitalopram (brand name Cipralex) on the UK market last June. Escitalopram is made by splitting the active molecule in Lundbeck's bestseller citalopram (Cipramil).

Eight complaints were made by Dr David Pyle, a psychiatrist in Wales. He argues that NHS doctors are being urged to prescribe an expensive new drug when there are cheap generics of the old one. Five of his complaints were upheld.

Exclusion consultation

A consultation has been launched to tackle the social exclusion of people with mental health problems. The former Minister for Social Exclusion, Barbara Roche launched the project at Community Care Live, an event for social care professionals.

The consultation aims to address the barriers that people with mental health problems in accessing job opportunities and services.

The consultation, will be run by the Social Exclusion Unit and hopes to attract a wide range of opinions, including those from service users, service providers, businesses and the voluntary sector. To obtain the consultation document, visit www.socialexclusionunit.gov.uk.

RCP in 'shame' attack

The government should 'hang its head in shame' over compulsory detention of mentally ill people the Royal College of Psychiatrists says.

Under draft proposals the courts could detain in hospital a 'dangerous' mentally ill defendant, even if not charged with an offence requiring a prison sentence. Tony Zigmond, the Royal College of Psychiatrists' lead member on mental health reform, says: This plan is a disgrace and shameful. The government should be hanging its head in shame in how it is treating the mentally ill.'

Geordies show the way

Newcastle, North Tyneside and Northumberland Mental Health NHS Trust is launching an innovative distance learning package for health practitioners that could revolutionise training in cognitive behavioural therapy.

The new Praxis training package, has been developed by the 3Ns Mental Health Trust, working with national experts in cognitive behavioural therapy from both within and outside the Trust. The comprehensive distance-learning package centres on an interactive CD-Rom, plus written materials, supervision, university accreditation and training for supervisors.

The 3Ns Trust's CBT Distance Learning Training Lead, Pamela Myles explained: 'We know that cognitive behavioural therapy is an extremely effective way of treating people who have a range of mental health problems.