Specialised services commissioning: area C mental health

Overview

As the Chair of the Programme of Care for Secure and Specialised Mental Health, I oversee the Clinical Reference Groups (CRGs) for a diverse range of services – Tier 4 CAMHS, Tier 4 Adult Personality disorder, Psychiatric Services for Adults who are Deaf, High/Medium Secure Forensic Services, Gender Dysphoria Services, Adult Eating Disorder Services and Peri-natal Psychiatry Services. The CRG work has at times been demanding, getting to grips with the new NHS structures and meeting challenging deadlines whilst continuing with the day-job.

However, it has been a rewarding experience to share the camaraderie that has developed amongst the CRG Chairs. The CRGs have welcomed the opportunity to put together service specifications based on best practice guidance developed jointly by clinicians, commissioners, patients and their carers. There is also a real opportunity to develop national networks and approaches to quality and service development amongst services, which hitherto have at times been isolated. This is however only the beginning. The work is on-going and the involvement of clinicians, patients and their carers remains key, particularly if we are to capitalise on the advantages of a national approach and avoid fragmentation of care pathways across commissioning structures.

Dr Margaret Murphy

Chair, Secure and Specialised Mental Health Programme of Care

Consultant Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist, Cambridge

Chair of the Child and Adolescent Faculty in the Royal College of Psychiatrists. 

Why your views matter

A range of service specifications and clinical policies for specialised services commissioning have been developed by Clinical Reference Groups (CRGs).

There has already been extensive engagement on these new national specifications and policies, as they have been developed with the support and input of lead clinicians and patient and public representatives. This approach has helped ensure that the views of key stakeholders have informed and influenced the policies and specifications.

We now want to test them further with more stakeholders to ensure all needs and considerations have been taken into account.

What happens next

This consultation is now closed.

Thank you for your feedback. The NHS CB is working through your comments and will publish a full response on this website in spring 2013.

Please note that the consultation on the specialised service specifications and policy published on 11 January will continue to be open until 22 February 2013 and can be accessed here.