Mental health service shortlisted for award
Mid and South Essex Integrated Care Board, Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust (EPUT) and Vita Health Group have been jointly shortlisted for a Health Service Journal (HSJ) Partnership Award, based on their joint work to better support the mental health needs of people living in Basildon and Brentwood.
This includes the new Basildon and Brentwood Integrated Primary Community Care (IPCC) Mental Health Team, which provides mental health support within GP surgeries for people struggling with issues such as depression and anxiety.
Winners will be announced at an awards ceremony to be held on 21 March in London.
Anna Harley, Mental Health Transformation Lead for the Mid and South Essex Integrated Care Board, said: “Our mental health services are focused on improving patient experience and reducing health inequalities by providing consistently high-quality, personalised care, close to home.
“Being shortlisted for an HSJ Partnership Award is testament to the determination of commissioners, EPUT and Vita Health Group to work in close partnership with service users and other colleagues to help people get the support they need, preventing them from reaching crisis point, whenever possible.”
Cathy Bunch, Service Manager for Adult and Older Adult Community Mental Health in Basildon and Brentwood at EPUT, said: “Previously, people struggling with their mental health could wait up to 28 days before they could speak to a mental health professional.
“In Basildon and Brentwood, latest data shows that, on average, a person’s waiting time from booking an appointment via their GP to speaking to a mental health practitioner is now less than 24 hours.”
Dr Paul O’Sullivan, Counselling Psychologist and Integrated Primary Community Care Service Manager at Vita Health Group, said: “It is only by listening to and working with our service users and other organisations, that we can develop mental health services and pathways that really meet the needs of our local communities. We will continue to work together to improve the experience for people who require help with mental health problems.”
Some examples of feedback from people who have used the Basildon and Brentwood IPCC Mental Health Service include:
“I am truly astounded with and so grateful for such a prompt, understanding service which responded so rapidly to my cry for help. I feel supported, listened to and more hopeful as a result”
“It helped pull me out of the deep, dark hole I had fallen into. I felt less alone and stricken”
“Really felt the need for support at the time when I called and got call back within 2 hours for which I am so grateful.”
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