Issue 1 - Summer 2010
Trust Journal Issue 1 - Summer 2010. Including; Editorial, Research and Audit, Commentary and Debate, Book Reviews and Interviews
Download the full journal here, or click on the links below to access the individual articles
Editorial
Do you ever wonder why you agree to do things?
By Raja Mukherjee, Editor
Do you ever wonder why you agree to do things? The phrase “just say no” comes to mind, but for those of us of a certain generation, not in the context it was widely used back then! When Malcolm Hawthorne, then in his role as Medical Director, suggested setting up this journal, little did I realise I would be the one running with it...
Let’s do some research
By Raj Persaud
If we asked you to predict now whether you were going to perform some research and publish it, say in the next year, what would your answer be? Perhaps, from past experience you might admit that this is not likely. On the other hand, even if wasn’t particularly likely, you may also feel that gathering data is something that you ought to be doing, and given the social pressure and management demands (me asking you publicly what your research plans are) you might impulsively declare, that yes research is something you are planning and intending...
Download the full article
Research and Audit
Bipolar Disorder: how effective is our screening in primary care
By Helena Du Toit, Raja Mukherjee, Rebecca Farrell and Sudhir Rastogi
Bipolar Affective Disorder (BPD) is a serious, recurrent psychiatric illness characterised by periods of mania or hypomania, and depression.
The purpose of the audit was to assess whether patients presenting to primary care practices within our catchment area were being screened for BPD. Additionally we wanted to establish how effective our service was at correctly identifying both true BPD sufferers, and those suffering from other mental health conditions. We intend to examine this data and consider whether further awareness and screening is required.
Audit of risk assessment documentation in adult in-patients - adherence to Trust guidelines and how to improve performance in this area
By Abigail Crutchlow
Acknowledgements: Dr L Church
Current local policy for SABP NHS Foundation Trust states that all adult patients admitted to an in-patient unit within the Trust should have a standardised risk assessment form completed on admission and this should be updated regularly at every ward round or if a significant change in risk occurs. The aim of this audit is to provide an overview of performance and whether these guidelines are being met and, if not, to implement methods to improve performance.
An evolving service – results of a 3 year follow up study of the practice of a community mental health team incorporating the principles of “New Ways of Working”
By Jeremy Mudunkotuwe and Farida Yousaf
Acknowledgements: Helena Du Toit, Dipesh Naik
In 2005 the National Steering Group published “New Ways of Working for Psychiatrists”. This document outlined the way in which teams could change in order to facilitate the time spent by the psychiatrist with the team considering their training and skill set. The requirements for this change necessitated a major change in service at the community psychiatry level. The changes were principally to enhance patient care, but were also planning for a perceived lack of psychiatrists in the future, due to increased retirement and inadequate numbers of doctors in training.
The aim was to assess over time the nature of psychiatrists’ appointments in the Mole Valley Primary Care Mental Health Team with regard to the changes as outlined in the “New Ways of Working” document published in 2005.
Commentary and Debate
How can we look at improving recruitment into psychiatry?
By Josie Jenkinson
If recent figures are to be believed, fewer UK graduates are entering higher specialist training in psychiatry than ever before. Just 6% of candidates sitting Paper 1 of the MRCPsych in diet one of 2008 were UK graduates (Oxtoby, 2008), and this is likely to be a national indicator of recruitment trends (Brown et al, 2009). This has lead to widespread attention being focused on potential ways of improving recruitment into psychiatry, and the Royal College of Psychiatrists having taken specific steps to address the issue (Royal College of Psychiatrists, 2009)...
Book Reviews
Psychiatry P.R.N.
Principles, Reality, Next steps
By Josie Jenkinson
A review of the new textbook for medical students and trainees in psychiatry, which introduces the speciality in a very practical and unique way...
Interviews
Interview with Fiona Edwards, Chief Executive SABP NHS Foundation Trust
By Abigail Crutchlow supervised by Raja Mukherjee
Fiona Edwards is the Chief Executive of Surrey and Borders Partnership NHS Foundation Trust and I met with her recently to interview her about some of the current issues and her views and opinions on her role and how the Trust can progress.
Surrey and Borders Partnership NHS Foundation Trust © 2013