Community mental health survey 2013

The Care Quality Commission has published a national survey of more than 13,000 people who use community mental health services in England. The survey shows the care people receive in the community needs to improve and of particular concern is people’s lack of involvement in their care plans and having their views taken into account when deciding which medication to take. People were asked about the care and support they received from mental health services outside hospital, such as those offered by outpatient clinics, local teams providing crisis home treatment, assertive outreach, early intervention for psychosis, and generic community mental health services.

CQC:  http://www.cqc.org.uk/public/publications/surveys/community-mental-health-survey-2013

National Survey Results:  http://www.cqc.org.uk/sites/default/files/media/documents/20130911_mh13_national_summary_final.pdf

Black and Minority Ethnic communities, mental health and criminal justice

A new briefing published by the Centre for Mental Health’s Bradley Commission has found that community groups are key to engaging black and minority ethnic groups that are disproportionately represented both in mental health care and in the criminal justice system. This first report from the Commission ‘Black and Minority Ethnic communities, mental health and criminal justice’ looks in detail at this issue and gives examples of local services that are making a difference.
Press release:  http://www.centreformentalhealth.org.uk/news/2013_Bradley_Commission_BME_communities.aspx

Briefing: http://www.centreformentalhealth.org.uk/publications/Bradley_Commission_BME_communities.aspx?ID=677

Building dementia-friendly communities

The Alzheimer’s Society has published ‘Building dementia-friendly communities: a priority for everyone’. The report provides evidence of dementia-friendly communities from the perspective of people affected by dementia. It explores the barriers that people face in their community, how they would like to be engaged in their local area and the support they need to empower them to do so. Overall, the report aims to provide guidance to areas that are looking to become dementia-friendly and to provide extra evidence for those already committed to becoming dementia-friendly. New and existing evidence from people with dementia and their carers is collated alongside examples of projects that are making a difference for people with dementia.
Press release:  http://www.alzheimers.org.uk/site/scripts/press_article.php?pressReleaseID=1013

Report:  http://www.alzheimers.org.uk/buildingdfcs

Integrated care for people with mental health problems

‘Crossing boundaries: improving integrated care for people with mental health problems’ sets out the findings from the Mental Health Foundation’s Inquiry into integrated health care for people with mental health problems. The Inquiry ran from April 2012 to June 2013. Its aim was to identify good practice, generate discussion, and draw up key messages on integrated healthcare for people with mental health problems.

http://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/publications/crossing-boundaries/

Advanced dementia service

The King’s Fund has published a case study looking at the Oxleas Advanced Dementia Service which provides care co-ordination, and specialist palliative care and support to patients with advanced dementia living at home. The aim of the study was to understand the strategies used to deliver care co-ordination effectively; examine barriers and facillitors to successful care co-ordination; isolate key markers for success for the practical application of the tools and techniques of care co-ordination; and to identify lessons in how care co-ordination can best be supported in terms of planning, organisation and leadership. This case study is part of a research project undertaken by The King’s Fund and funded by Aetna and the Aetna Foundation in the USA to compare five successful UK-based models of care co-ordination.

http://www.kingsfund.org.uk/publications/oxleas-advanced-dementia-service

Ten million pound cash boost to improve the health of homeless people

The Department of Health have awarded fifty two projects a share of £10 million to ensure homeless people receive better help once they leave hospital. It is estimated that homeless people attend A&E up to six times more than people with a home – and that currently 70 per cent of homeless people are discharged back onto the street without their housing or on-going care needs after hospital being properly addressed. The projects are run by voluntary sector organisations who will work with the NHS and local government to make sure homeless people get the best possible support and care after they leave hospital. This will help reduce the number of homeless people who are readmitted to hospital.

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/ten-million-pound-cash-boost-to-improve-the-health-of-homeless-people

No quick fix: exposing the depth of Britain’s drug and alcohol problem

The Centre for Social Justice has published a report that suggests the UK has become a hub for websites peddling dangerous ‘legal highs’ or ‘club drugs’ which are being ordered online. ‘No quick fix: exposing the depth of Britain’s drug and alcohol problem’ is a ‘state of the nation’ report which also criticises an inadequate response to heroin addiction and highlights the system’s lack of ambition to tackle alcohol abuse.

BBC News report:  http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-23913818
Press release:  http://centreforsocialjustice.org.uk/UserStorage/pdf/Press%20Releases/addictionpr.pdf
Report:  http://www.centreforsocialjustice.org.uk/UserStorage/pdf/Pdf%20reports/addict.pdf

Dietary copper intake may be linked to Alzheimer’s

The Daily Telegraph has warned that “Copper from diet ‘could trigger Alzheimer’s disease‘,” after new research has suggested that high levels of copper could disrupt the effects of a key protein in the brain.  The protein, called LRP1, is thought to be involved in helping remove amyloid beta from the brain, a protein that is strongly associated with Alzheimer’s.
The study in question was carried out by the University of Rochester Medical Center in New York State and published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS).  It is important to stress that the study in question involved mice bred under highly specialised conditions.  It remains to be seen whether copper can trigger similar changes in the human brain. This research certainly is not evidence that we should avoid copper-rich foods and low levels of copper inside the body can lead to conditions such osteoporosis.
The UK media coverage of the story was accurate, with most sources containing appropriate advice that it would be dangerous to completely remove copper from our diets.

Full Behind the Headlines story:
http://www.nhs.uk/news/2013/08August/Pages/Dietary-copper-intake-may-be-linked-to-Alzheimers.aspx

Original Article:
Singh I, Sagare AP, Coma M, et al. Low levels of copper disrupt brain amyloid-β homeostasis by altering its production and clearance.  PNAS. Published online August 19 2013

Managing schizophrenia

The Scottish Intercollegiate Network has published a booklet entitled ‘Managing schizophrenia’. This booklet aims to make adult patients and their families aware of the treatment and care they should expect to receive when they are experiencing psychosis or when they have been diagnosed with schizophrenia. These patient booklets explain the recommendations in the SIGN clinical guideline; and help to make patients aware of the tests and treatments they should expect to receive from the NHS. They are a lay translation of the clinical guidelines and are not intended to be general information leaflets.
http://www.sign.ac.uk/patients/publications/131/index.html

UK to host G8 dementia summit

The UK is to host the first G8 dementia summit to lead international action on tackling the condition. The UK is inviting health ministers from G8 countries to a high-level summit in London on 11 December to discuss how they can coordinate efforts and shape an effective international solution to dementia. This includes looking for effective therapies and responses to slow dementia’s impact. The summit will aim to identify and agree a new international approach to dementia research, to help break down barriers within and between companies, researchers and clinicians and secure a new level of cooperation needed to reach shared goals faster than nations acting alone. They will draw on the expertise and experience of the OECD, World Health Organisation, industry, national research organisations, key opinion leaders, researchers and physicians.
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/uk-to-host-g8-dementia-summit