DEVELOPMENTS IN SCOTLAND

Mental Health Nursing,  Jul 2005  by Melvin, Mary

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Mental Health Tribunal for Scotland

Eileen Davie has been appointed as President of the Mental Health Tribunal for Scotland. She has been an advocate (barrister) since 1989 with a substantial civil practice covering a wide range of subjects in both public and private law. Prior to her legal training she was a senior psychiatric social worker.

The Mental Health Tribunal for Scotland is a non departmental public body established by the Mental Health (Care and Treatment) (Scotland) Act 2003, sponsored by the Executive's Health Department. The President will play a key part in the initial set-up and ongoing directing of the Tribunal's hearing system.

The establishment of the Tribunal marks a fundamental change in the way decisions are made about the long-term compulsory care and treatment of people in Scotland who suffer from mental disorders. Tribunal panels will consider both the compulsory powers sought and the plan of care proposed for the individual.

Personality Disorder

The Centre for Change and Innovation is leading a piece of work to look at the management and treatment of people with Borderline Personality Disorder within the NHS in Scotland. This work has been commissioned by the Mental Health Division of the Health Department.

A two day event in November was chaired by Dr Linda Treliving a consultant psychiatrist and psychoanalyst from Aberdeen. A report was published and sent out for consultation. Responses are still coming in and being analysed.

The Mental Health (Care and Treatment) (Scotland) Act 2003, states that PD is a medically treatable condition. More clarity around what is the best treatment options and what if any of these are available in Scotland is needed therefore.

A follow up day in March with members of the short-life working group was convened to look at the consultation responses.

A literature review of effective treatment options has been commissioned from Professor lan Reid, Aberdeen. A survey of NHS services is being undertaken and Dr Treliving is assisting with this. A larger conference will be held in September with a wider stakeholder group and a report will be sent to the MH Division for final consideration.

National Review of Mental Health Nursing

A national review of mental health nursing in Scotland began in March.

The review comes in a period of reform and development of mental health care and services in Scotland. The Scottish Executive has introduced a number of policies and initiatives aimed at improving mental health services, tackling health inequalities and improving the quality of life, well being and social inclusion of people who experience mental health problems. The full implementation of the Mental Health (Care and Treatment) (Scotland) Act 2003, scheduled for October, heralds a new era of rights based mental health care in Scotland.

Mental health nurses are the largest professional workforce group in mental health care. The review will consider how mental health nursing can best be developed in a way that enables the profession to support and influence the implementation of health policy and drive the enhancement of mental health services both now, and in the future.

It will also provide an opportunity to establish a strategic framework that provides a clear vision for future directions for the professions. It aims to enhance the role of mental health nurses to ensure the best evidence and values-based practice can be delivered in order to improve the outcomes and experience of care for service users.

The review will be conducted in a way that allows the full involvement and ownership of key stakeholders and reflects the Scottish Executive's commitment to place front line health care workers in a position to drive service development and improvement. A number of structures and activities will determine the focus and outcomes of the review and support the review process, including.

* A national review steering group

* Expert reference groups representing mental health nurses and service users and carers

* A range of consultation activities including conferences, focus groups, open forums, direct meetings with key stakeholders and consultation documents inviting views about key issues arising from the review.

The Review will report in April 2006 Visit: www.show.scot.nhs. uk/sehd/nrmhns

Reports by Mary Melvin

Candy James is a sister at the Assessment Resource Unit/Memory Clinic at Birch Hill Hospital, Rochdale, Pennine Care Trust

Nicola Evans is a lecturer at the University of Cardiff School of Nursing and Midwifery

Laurence Pollock is editor Mental Health Nursing

Mary Melvin is Scottish chair of the MHNA

Copyright Community Psychiatric Nurses Association Jul 2005
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