Treat as One
The National Confidential Enquiry into Patient Outcome and Death (NCEPOD) published its Treat as One Report in January 2017.
The report highlights the quality of mental health and physical healthcare for patients aged 18 years or older with a significant mental disorder who are admitted to a general hospital. It takes a critical look at areas where the care of patients might have been improved.
South Tees Hospitals has launched its own Treat as One group to ensure patients with potential or pre-existing mental health disorders have their holistic health needs appropriately treated and managed by skilled staff.
Our clinicians treat a lot of patients for physical problems who also have mental health conditions. These range from psychosis, self-harm and eating disorders to anxiety, depression and personality disorders. There are too many to list them all!
Many patients are scared because of the diagnosis they have been given, the tests they have come in for or the symptoms they are experiencing. This can cause anxiety and depression. Some of these patients may have an underlying mental health condition already, but some may not.
The Treat as One group aims to ensure these patients are quickly identified so they receive appropriate support as soon as possible.
Staff education is also a big focus of the group. Basic Mental Health Awareness Training now offered to all trust staff including those with non-clinical roles.
The aim is for all staff members to be confident in assisting patients with mental health conditions – we may all need to help someone who is confused because they have dementia, whether it’s on the ward, in a busy hospital corridor or in the staff restaurant.
It’s a fact
Around one in four people will experience a mental health problem this year, yet the shame and silence can be as bad as the mental health problem itself. Your attitude to mental health could change someone’s life!
Need help or advice?
Whether you’re concerned about yourself or a loved one, the helplines listed in the NHS Choices link below can offer expert advice.
Did you know…?
- The average life expectancy for someone with a long-term mental health illness or learning disability is 15 to 20 years shorter than for someone without.
- 30% of people with long term physical health conditions, such as diabetes, arthritis or heart problems, also have a mental health condition, such as depression or anxiety.
- Nearly half of all people with diagnosed mental illness also have at least one, and often more, long term physical conditions.
Evidence shows that by joining up physical and mental healthcare, we can help someone to manage their different conditions, improve their health outcomes, and even prevent unnecessary health problems for some people by identifying risk early.