Psychiatry service awarded national accreditation
A service supporting patients experiencing mental health difficulties has been accredited by the Royal College of Psychiatrists for the quality of care they provide patients.
The Worcestershire Mental Health Liaison Service, provided by Herefordshire and Worcestershire Health and Care NHS Trust has been awarded accreditation for its commitment to meeting core standards for liaison psychiatry services, set out by the Royal College of Psychiatrists, Psychiatric Liaison Accreditation Network (PLAN).
Embedded within Worcestershire’s acute hospitals, the team provides assessment to all people, regardless of age, who attend Worcestershire Royal Hospital and the Alexandra Hospital Emergency Departments following an episode of self-harm, attempted suicide or presenting with symptoms of mental illness. They also support patients admitted to medical wards for treatment following self-harm or attempted suicide.
The accreditation process includes a comprehensive peer-review and measures the service against over 180 care standards.
Fran Tummey, Associate Director of Specialist Mental Health & Learning Disability Services said, “This accreditation is a strong endorsement of the practice and professionalism of our team who work tirelessly to support their patients. Despite increasing pressure, they continue to provide a high quality of service, meeting strict national standards in all aspects of their care. I couldn’t be prouder of their achievement.”
The Psychiatric Liaison Accreditation Network was established in 2009 to support the quality improvement of psychiatric liaison teams in the UK and Ireland.
The Accreditation Committee is made up of mental health professionals, including mental health nurses, psychiatrists and consultants, as well as service user representatives.