Meeting the targets in Burngreave?

by Mark Lankshear

In February this year Community Health Sheffield and the mental health division of Social Services ended years of uncertainty by joning to form the new Adult Mental Health Service. The Messenger asked Alan Riggott, Community Services Manager for the new service and Sarah Cook the new primary care lead on Mental Health how they would meet the new standards in Burngreave. 

Support for Pitsmoor Day Center 

With the merger of CHS and Social Services uncertainty has surrounded the future of the Pitsmoor Day Center. Alan Riggot told the Messenger that proposals were now being put forward to provide the centre with a secure future, working more closely with local organisations. 

More community based staff 

To meet the new standards, including a 24-hour target for urgent referrals, more staff are needed. The new service is recruiting more care coordinators and is developing the Sheffield Out-Reach Team and the ‘Early Intervention in Psychosis’ pilot in the Northlands centre. A crisis intervention or home treatment team is unlikely before 2003. 

New lead for primary care 

The North PCT, responsible for primary care in Burngreave, have just appointed Sarah Cook, who has many links with Burngreave, to develop action on mental health care. She told the Messenger that progress is being made on prescribing, management and referral guidelines, patient registers and training needs. A review of counselling services is underway to help shape future services. 

Slower progress to partnership 

One of the most challenging parts of the new Government standards is working in partnership with service users and carers. A recent audit revealed that only 15% of carers in Sheffield had their needs assessed and the Mental Health Users Group have felt it necessary to campaign for a ‘code of conduct’ to be adopted by professionals. After 21/2 years they have had little success. Mental health services have long been critisised for failing to meet the needs of black and minority ethnic communities, and even of discriminating against them. 

The PCT is planning to set up a Black and Ethnic Minority Health Forum and says it is determined to ensure that North Sheffield’s black and ethnic minority communities can access and benefit from the NHS. The Adult Mental Health Service hopes to work more closely with the voluntary sector. These steps towards partnership must be welcome, but action to provide culturally competent services, in true partnership with those who use them, still seems a long way off.