Belfast Mental Health Rights Group welcomes launch of 'Card Before You Leave' appointment system The ‘Card Before You Leave’ (CBYL) appointment system was formally launched by the Health Minister Michael McGimpsey on 13th January 2010 at the South Eastern Health and Social Care Trust Headquarters. This regional change came nearly 2 years after the official launch of the PIPS/Greater Shankill Rights Group’s (PIPS/GSBF Rights Group) campaign to have this small, reasonable and cost effective recommendation implemented – and 5 years after it was first suggested by Gerard and Carol McCartan (who are members of the group) at the Inquiry into the death of their son Danny. The new regional scheme is aimed at giving greater support to patients who have self-harmed or have suicidal thoughts. It has now been rolled out in all Emergency Departments across Northern Ireland. The scheme ensures that all those who present to Emergency Departments with thoughts of self harm/suicide will be offered either an urgent appointment immediately or an appointment the following day by mental health services and that patients in need do not have to wait. The PIPS/GSBF Rights Group also used the launch as an opportunity to announce it was changing its name to Belfast Mental Health Rights Group. The group believed that this was a timely and necessary step due to expanding number of members who come from all parts of Belfast PIPS/GSBF Rights Group worked in partnership with Trusts across Northern Ireland for over the 15 months to review and strengthen “care pathways” between Emergency Departments and mental health services.
Suicide in Northern Ireland is on the increase*. The target set in 2006 by the Protect Life: Suicide Prevention Strategy of a 10% decrease in suicides by 2008 was not met, with Department of Health statistics showing an increase in the number of suicides from 242 in 2007 to 282 in 2008. Government reports have also showed that post-discharge suicides peak in the first weeks following discharge and 66% of post-discharge suicide in Northern Ireland occurred before the first follow-up appointment.
Impact of scheme
Desi Bannon, Regional Co-ordinator & Director of Adult Services (South Eastern Health & Social Care Trust) says “There have been a range of new initiatives across the Province to strengthen mental health services in the community particularly in relation to self harm and suicide. The Suicide Prevention Strategy, the National Helpline and Crisis Response services are examples of this. The Card Before You Leave scheme, aimed at strengthening pathways from Accident and Emergency services to mental health services, is another such initiative”
“We have received strong support and representation from the PIPS/Greater Shankill Group who initially led the call for such a service, with Gerard McCartan of PIPS/GSBF and Stephanie Green from PPR working on the Project Board. We also received strong support from the Health and Social Care Board through Seamus Logan of the Service Improvement Department”.
“Each Trust within the region has developed a system of ensuring next day contact with patients who have self harmed or thought of suicide. I am thankful to the project leads within each Trust for their dedication and hard work in putting the systems in place. The new systems will take time to develop fully and the Project Board will continue to meet to assess progress and continually work to improve mental health interfaces with acute services”.
Next steps for campaign – monitoring effectiveness of scheme.
Gerard McCartan stated on the day of the launch: “We believed the Card Before You Leave system would be a lifeline for people when they were most vulnerable. The launch today is a considerable step forward for those people impacted by mental health issues who may be at risk of suicide or self-harm. The Group is very keen to continue to work with the Health Trusts, Board and the Department of Health to ensure that all vulnerable groups, especially under 18’s and over 65’s, are protected by the Card Before You Leave system.”
Stephanie Green, a Development Worker with PPR which works with Belfast Mental Health Rights Group reflected on the importance of participation of people affected by the issue of mental illness and suicide in the success of the campaign “The Card Before You Leave appointment system is a significant and vitally important one in light of the data which shows that post-discharge is a particularly vulnerable time for those with mental illness. The participation of the group in working with the Trusts and the Department to achieve the change has been crucial as it is the people on the ground who experience the real impact of government policies and their experience must be used”.
“A number of the Trusts are already finding that the Card Before You Leave system is leading to more appropriate use of staff resources. The Minister for Health, Michael McGimpsey, has consistently said that service users must be at the heart of mental health services; and his commitment to this and to the Card Before You Leave has now provided a best practice example of how service user participation can result in effective change. The group will now focus on monitoring the Card Before You Leave to ensure it is being truly effective.”
For more information on the story of the group’s campaign – link to Resources, story so far and for article in Health and Human Rights Journal http://www.hhrjournal.org/index.php/hhr |
