The Royal College of Psychiatrists’ 2008 Fair
Deal manifesto recorded evidence that mental health services have
lagged behind physical health services. In-patient care in some
hospitals did not meet acceptable standards.
At the end of the 3-year Fair Deal campaign it
is now time to re-examine the issue and reassess the evidence in
the new political and economic climate, and to identify essential
areas for improvement.
Distilled from existing working-age inpatient
ward standards, a new report by the College aims to (a) offer a
useful minimum checklist of standards for managers and
commissioners of services to apply in strategic planning and in
assessing for themselves the quality of their wards; and (b) to
provide elaboration of the ten standards drawing on the evidence of
current practice as found by the reviewing bodies.
It is hoped that this report will make the
case that in-patient services need continued investment to make
patient experience healthier, safer and more conducive to proper
clinical recovery and rehabilitation.
The former President of the Royal College of Psychiatrists
stressed the importance of inpatient conditions in a
recent article in the Guarding and also included it
in his valedictory speech at the College's international
congress in Brighton in late June 2011
For information contact Masood Khan