“People who are in need of mental health support should receive the very highest standards of care. The rapid review report published this week represents an opportunity to ensure all inpatient settings deliver quality care in a safe environment to best support the recovery of those who are at their most vulnerable.
Health care leaders from across both the NHS and the independent sector are all united in the common goal of ensuring the wellbeing and safety of those receiving inpatient care for their mental health. Service users are at the heart of all of our decisions and we share a passion for ensuring care is delivered in high quality, safe settings which allow the best chances of a successful recovery.
I was pleased to see the recommendations set out which emphasise the need for collaboration with the independent sector, particularly regarding the sharing of best practise. The need for all health and social care providers to come together and work in partnership in our efforts to overcome the existing mental health crisis has never been more important. At Cygnet Group, we want to be a driver for change in mental health provision. We want to be part of the solution, and work with the NHS to provide the best treatment and facilities to help people on their recovery journey.
The report highlights the need to involve carers and service users in improving patient safety and care, something we champion and feel passionate about. The voices of people with lived experience is also imperative to driving real change as they offer a unique lens with which to see where improvements can be made and we are proud of our Expert by Experience programme. The expertise of people who use our services should be involved in care planning, making collaborative decisions, staff recruitment and training, as well as planning and improving service quality. Cygnet is one of the UK’s leaders in true service user involvement and co-production.
I, like many others, am concerned about the sustained pressure on the NHS mental health services and its stretched capacity in the face of growing demand. For individuals facing mental health struggles, it is absolutely critical to receive the right care at the right time, in the right setting. It has always been my belief that we can have the greatest impact if the NHS and independent sector work together