PRESS RELEASE
Press Release: 2 March 2010
All Party Parliamentary Group on Mental Health
MPS IDENTIFY GAPS IN IMPLEMENTING BEST PRACTICE GUIDANCE IN THE TREATMENT OF SCHIZOPHRENIA
MPs from the All Party Parliamentary Group on Mental Health are today launching the report of their investigation into the implementation of the most recent NICE Guideline on treatment of schizophrenia: www.appg-mentalhealth.org.uk/appgmh-news.html The Group took up this issue following responses to parliamentary questions, which revealed that implementation was the responsibility of individual NHS organisations and progress was not monitored centrally.
The Report’s Key Findings:
· Serious challenges to the delivery of psychological services, particularly CBT, to all service users with a diagnosis of schizophrenia, as called for by the Guideline
· Lack of focus on the requirements for more comprehensive services such as assistance with employment and partnerships with relevant local organisations
· Confusion and difficulties in providing improved physical health screening for service users with a diagnosis of schizophrenia
· Inconsistency in the services provided across Trusts and the potential for sharing of good practice in areas such as monitoring adherence to medication
The report highlights the difficulties mental health service users face in accessing what should be basic treatment and the importance in maintaining the growth in funding for mental health services.
The report is based on responses from over half of the mental health trusts in England and Wales.
Co-Chairs of the APPG:
LYNNE JONES MP (Lab)
SANDRA GIDLEY MP (Lib)
CHARLES WALKER MP (Con)
ends
