The NHS in Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent has been working with local patients, staff, interested groups and partners to understand how mental health services could be designed and is launching a series of public conversations to continue that discussion.
“The Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent Integrated Care System’s (ICS’s) priority is to deliver quality mental healthcare for patients in their own home or community whenever possible, rather than in hospital,” explained Ben Richards, Senior Responsible Officer for the ICS’s Mental Health, Learning Disability, Autism and Down Syndrome programme of work.
This model of care is the national ambition set out in the NHS Long Term Plan. It is based on the latest clinical evidence, which shows this approach gives patients the best possible outcomes.
This is not a new approach. The ICB has been working with Integrated Care System (ICS) partners and investing in our community mental health services for many years.
“We have enhanced our community teams and developed better ways of working that help us meet the national goals – like making community services easier to access and giving people more choice and control over their treatment,” added Clinical Director Dr Waheed Abbasi.
“We know the way people need to access mental health services is very different – and we know that what works for one person will not be the right approach for another. That’s why we want to hear from anyone in Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent who has come into contact with mental health services – either because they’ve used services or because they provide professional or personal support to someone who has.”
The ICB is holding a series of four online events on 4th, 5th and 6th June to find out people’s view about how mental health services are currently designed and provided, how mental health services and support are accessed and what the services could look like in the future.
Three of the events are for the whole Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent community, with a special event organised only for the learning disability community within the county.
Events are being held on:
- Event 1 – Tuesday 4 June, 5.30pm to 7.00pm. (Registration for event 1 on Tuesday 4 June 2024 will close at 11pm on Sunday 2 June 2024)
- Event 2 – Wednesday 5 June, 12.30pm to 2.00pm. Note this event is for the learning disability community only (Registration for event 2 on Wednesday 5 June 2024 will close at 4pm on Monday 3 June 2024)
- Event 3 – Wednesday 5 June, 3.00pm to 4.30pm. (Registration for event 3 on Wednesday 5 June 2024 will close at 4pm on Monday 3 June 2024)
- Event 4 – Thursday 6 June, 10.30am to 12.00pm. (Registration for event 4 on Thursday 6 June 2024 will close at 4pm on Tuesday 4 June 2024).
To attend one of the online events above, visit the ICB website to register, ensuring that you select the most appropriate event for you, and indicate if you will require translation or interpretation support during the event.
