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Covering Letter

Dear Colleague

NHSHDL (2006) 64 DELIVERING FOR MENTAL HEALTH: ACUTE INPATIENT FORUMS ( AIFs)

You will have seen the above HDL announcing the immediate forward agenda for mental health services in Scotland. That letter and Delivering for Mental Health, which was enclosed, set out key targets and commitments for NHS Boards and partners to at least 2010. This letter offers further background and next steps detail on the commitment to establish Acute Inpatient Forums ( AIFs) within each NHS Board area.

I attach guidance for your information on how AIFs will be structured, run and held accountable. Also enclosed is a copy of a report produced by a short-life working group for which particular thanks go to Dr Tom Brown, Chair of the Royal College of Psychiatrists and Hugh Hill, Director of Services and Strategy of the Scottish Association for Mental Health. The guidance and the report are also available at:

http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Health/health/mental-health/servicespolicy/latest

In summary, NHS Board Chief Executives will be responsible for the establishment of Acute Inpatient Forums and how they function. AIFs action will be monitored through an enhanced performance management system to be in place by March 2007 and there will be an opportunity for dialogue with SEHD colleagues through a rolling visiting programme. As matters progress I will be in touch with your appointed Joint Local Implementation Coordinator. These arrangements will build on existing visiting, monitoring and other processes and will be designed to engender a positive experience for all concerned in delivering the Delivering for Mental Health targets and commitments.

Once established, AIFs will help support and drive the delivery of a number of other commitments and targets within Delivering for Mental Health. Specifically the aim is for the AIF in each area (and collectively) to give focus, help and support to delivering the target to reduce the number of readmissions (within one year) for those that have had a hospital stay of over 7 days by 10% by the end of December 2009.

In terms of the wider contribution to be made, the AIFs will also have an important role to play in ensuring that all units and wards provide an appropriate physical and therapeutic environment for those who need care and treatment. They will also help advance the commitment (number 11) to reduce the number of inappropriate admissions of children and young people to adult beds.

In HDL (2006) 64 Kevin Woods mentioned a range of initiatives designed to support Delivering for Mental Health and underlined the importance of linking, where appropriate, to other initiatives underway and planned. With various commitments in mind I encourage you and your colleagues to contact Suzanne Forrest at NHS Education for Scotland particularly in relation to the educational element of the implementation of the Mental Health Nursing review. Work is already underway on the need to establish Networks for practice development in acute care.

Simon Bradstreet at the Scottish Recovery Network is working with NHS Education for Scotland to take forward the recovery agenda. That overall agenda links well with the key Delivering for Mental Health commitment (number 1) on developing and piloting a tool to assess organisations and programmes in respect of equality, diversity, social inclusion and recovery. This work, together with the development of a Peer Support Worker course and the piloting of this role in 2008, provides a significant opportunity to review and improve quality of care. It also provides an opportunity to learn from the experience that individuals receive when they need to be admitted to an acute inpatient setting. Staff motivation and development will also require and receive attention as part of this agenda.

Your help in advancing the Delivering for Mental Health commitments and targets is appreciated and I look forward to working with you and your colleagues on this priority over the coming period.

Yours sincerely

ALEX MCMAHON
Head of Mental Health Delivery and Services Unit

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