In my part of the Midlands there is a Plan to roll out new ways of dealing with mental health problems. The public have been consulted, ideas will be collated and a Draft Plan will be developed. It should be ready mid-Summer when the public/health workers get the opportunity to comment.
Apparently most of the comments so far has been that the public on the whole, require more GPs regardless; we need GPs with empathy; GPs who will take time regardless of Government guidelines or who will be OK about making double appt.s in order to be heard.
The question was raised as to what current mental health support we would not want to lose. I would like to see that once a patient is 'stable' and has access to regular medication and if necessary, talking therapy and/or Community Psychiatric Nurses, that these can be utilised without needing to have a GP appt. each time. I would also like to see walk-in centres where people with mental health problems can feel safe, not necessarily with the need to talk but where they can have some 'space' and a cuppa.
Himself was present but didn't have much input and the other person talked a lot with obvious problems himself as well as in-family problems. It will be interesting watching this new initiative roll out.
