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Published online by Cambridge University Press: 07 July 2023
BACKGROUND: Local algorithms are in place which outline the required process for arranging a Mental Health Act assessment. It requires one doctor from the patient's allocated care team or Trust on-call consultant during the working hours and one doctor from the on-call team (registrar/Consultant- if no registrar) during out of hours. Concerns were raised that on-call doctors were not always asked to participate in assessments in accordance with Trust protocol. AIMS: To improve the on-call assessment process at Northstaffs Combined Healthcare NHS Trust (NSCHT). OBJECTIVES: To determine: Whether NSCHT doctors from the on-call rota participate in Mental Health Act assessments, as appropriate. Any patterns relating to day, time of day or location of assessment which correlate with on-call doctors not participating in assessments appropriately. Any areas where the required standards relating to on-call assessments are not being met. As well to take this opportunity to note down how long was admission following mental health act assessment and if any role of substance misuse.
All assessments undertaken during November and December 2020 were identified by the Mental Health Law Team. This resulted in a total for analysis of n=141 cases. Data collection was undertaken by Working Group members using a form devised by the Clinical Audit Department and entered online for analysis. Analysis was subsequently undertaken using SPSS and validated according to departmental protocol.
MHAA was done 35% inpatient, 30% Section 136 Suite, 14% community, 12% UHNM, 3% access, 2% police custody and 4% in other areas/ out of areas. Outcome were that 45% detained under section 2 MHA, 35% on section 3 MHA, 2% admitted informally and 18% neither detained nor admitted. 26% of the time substance misuse (acute / chronic) formed part of assessment.
• Overall results showed that at least one NSCHT doctor was involved in 91% of assessments undertaken, with roughly two thirds of doctors being Consultants and one third Registrars.
• Focusing on assessments undertaken in the Section 136 suite, at least one NSCHT doctor was involved in 92% of assessments undertaken, with roughly half of doctors being Consultants and half Registrars.
• Focusing on out of hours assessments, at least one NSCHT doctor was involved in 89% of assessments undertaken, with roughly two thirds of doctors being Consultants and one third Registrars.
Recommendations:
• To amend the Section 136 form to add the role of the doctor in the assessment.
• Results to be presented and discussed at the Mental Health Law Governance Group-completed.
• Results to be presented to the Acute and Urgent Care Directorate-completed.
• Executive Summary to be presented to the Clinical Effectiveness Group-completed.
Abstracts were reviewed by the RCPsych Academic Faculty rather than by the standard BJPsych Open peer review process and should not be quoted as peer-reviewed by BJPsych Open in any subsequent publication.
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