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Post by roland on Oct 7, 2009 12:22:40 GMT
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Post by annie on Oct 7, 2009 16:20:18 GMT
Hi roland
I saw that as well but can find nothing to show they are treating it urgently!!
Our MHT (Northumberland Tyne & Wear NHS Trust) set up a "pilot" clinic almost 18 mths ago and it still remains a very very limited service. As you know I wrote 2 years ago, to their then Chief Executive asking what they were going to do about services for Adult Adhd. Somewhat fortuitously my letter arrived at the same time as the Board were considering the setting up of this "pilot" A child psychiatrist and an adult psychiatrist were wanting to set it up and I met with them both of them but despite my attempts have not been able to engage them any further. I did write and ask them both to sign our petition - they didn't and they didn't even acknowledge my letter!!
This same "pilot" closed for a few months because of funding so I wrote again to the current C/E. It did re open but it was ages before I got a reply to my letter. When she eventually did she suggested she put my name forward as a Carer rep on any proposed implementation group. At the time I declined as I had networked with other Parent support groups across our region to send a letter to our 2 PCT clusters - North of Tyne and South of Tyne PCT's in the hope they would respond and we could get several people on to the implementation groups. Surprisingly we have not had a reply!!
I then wrote to the C/E saying I would take her up on her offer - 3 weeks ago - no reply - so I've written again!!!
I have contacted my MP and he has written to our local PCT asking about the implementation groups and he expects a reply next week and will send me a copy. However I have said I do not envisage my contact to be a "one off" as there is so much needs to be done across our region and I would hope he will also network with other MP's in the region.
In no way have I given up on Adult ADHD, after all both my children are adults. However I did think I might be able to exert more pressure if I push "the powers that be" on the issue of young people being transferred to Adult mental health. At the moment I have the figures for the number of 16-18 yr olds in my Local Authority and have requested, under the FOI, the numbers for the other 5 LA's. It is disappointing to see the figures from my own authority - they are dx less than 1% of school age children so Children's services, at least up here, have some way to go!!
I estimate the number of 16-18 yr olds across the region as being 300 at a minimum. This number will certainly not be given a comprehensive service by this 1 day/week "pilot" clinic!!!
I do have sympathy with the MHT's up and down the country who are saying they need PCT's to fund the service and I don't disagree with this. however all these Trusts have a similar responsibility to ensure their Adult psychiatrist's get the training they need to ensure they can at least recognise the condition and refer on to a specialist psychiatrist. Perhaps we need to ask each MHT what they are doing to address this issue.
Out of interest roland what was the response to your latest letter from Northumberland Tyne & wear NHS Trust?
annie
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Post by roland on Oct 7, 2009 17:11:36 GMT
Hi Annie, This is what they said: This issue has been discussed by our Senior Management Team, and our Executive Director of Nursing is leading the work in the Trust. He will chair a group of key individuals to identify the issues we need to address and work required to meet the guidelines.
Within the Trust, we are keen to respond to the needs of people with ADHD, and as such, we have been actively raising the issue with our commissioners, the local primary care trusts who lead the strategic direction of local services. The PCT's seem to be the major hurdle all the way round.
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Post by annie on Oct 7, 2009 20:42:42 GMT
Hi Roland
Thanks for that - a letter is on it's way asking what User/Carer involvement they have on this group - I bet you none!!
I do agree the PCT's have to properly fund a service however the MHT's are already funded to provide an up to date mental health service and a lot of this service is "not fit for purpose" That's to say the Trust's have not ensured there is sufficient in service training and audit to make sure their staff keep abreast of latest research developments in mental health and implement the findings.
We can see from our forum how many people are being fobbed off with dx of depression/anxiety etc. I feel the MHT's also have to put into practice the recommendations of Nice. Nice Key Priorities "Trusts should ensure that specialist teams for children, young people and adults jointly develop age appropriate training programmes for the dx and management of adhd for mental health, paediactric, social care, education, forensics and primary care providers who have contact with people with adhd"
Our Strategic Health Authority has decided to commission Adult Mental Health separate from those commissioning Drug and Alcohol services, Child Adolescent Mental Health Services and Prison/ Forensic mental Health - how joined up is this for detecting Adult Adhd.
Sorry I'm on a bit of a rant but it is all too easy for MHT's to say we can't do anything until PCT's fund us but PCT's are already funding them. What are MHT's doing to ensure they are "fit for purpose"- very little as far as I can see!!
annie
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