Specialist clinic receives accreditation from Royal College of Psychiatrists

A clinic that provides specialist treatment for specific types of severe mental health conditions has achieved accreditation and a commendation from peer reviewers at the Royal College of Psychiatrists.

The electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) clinic at The Lakes mental health unit in Colchester is the latest of Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation’s Trust ECT clinics to achieve the standards set by the College’s Electroconvulsive Therapy Accreditation Service (ECTAS).

These demonstrate best practice in how ECT is administered.

The clinic at The Lakes was also commended for providing care in a safe environment, providing a good patient experience, and for the quality of its documentation.

It is the third ECT clinic run by the Trust to receive ECTAS accreditation. The others are at Basildon Mental Health Unit and the Linden Centre in Chelmsford.

Yetunde Abiodun, matron of the Trust’s Neuromodulation Service, said: “Meeting the rigorous standards for accreditation recognises the safe and high quality care we provide for patients.

“Thank you to the ECT team at The Lakes and our Neuromodulation Service Team for their hard work, dedication and commitment to delivering high standards of care.” 

ECT is used to treat severe depression, catatonia, and severe or long-lasting episodes of mania.