Friday
22 May 2015
RCPsych in Wales - News Update
The following Update highlights points of interest that have emerged over the
past week that are relevant to psychiatry and mental health. If you have any
information you would like to share with colleagues through the News Update,
please email me. ([email protected]). We aim to publish every Friday. If
you have any comments or suggestions, please feel free to contact me.
WELSH GOVERNMENT
£7.6m funding boost for children and young people’s mental health services in Wales
The Welsh Government will invest an extra £7.6m every year in mental health
services for children and young people in Wales, Health and Social Services
Minister Mark Drakeford today (Friday May 22) announced. Press brief states:
•
The additional funding will help improve specialist child and adolescent mental
health services' (CAMHS) ability to respond out of hours and at times of crisis;
expand access to psychological therapies for young people; improve provision for
children and young people in local primary mental health support services and
ensure services intervene early to meet the needs of young people who develop
psychosis.
•
Funding will also be available to develop services for the most vulnerable young
people who are already in - or are at danger of entering - the youth justice
system.
•
It will also support the implementation of work, which is currently being carried
out to make CAMHS more responsive to the needs of young people. This work is
being led by the NHS and was formally launched by the Minister for Health and
Social Services on February 26.
•
The funding package includes £2m announced earlier this week to develop
services for young people with neuro-developmental needs, including ADHD and
autistic spectrum disorders. These new services will help to reduce waiting times
in specialist CAMHS so those children and young people with the most complex
conditions and the highest levels of clinical need are seen quickly.
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Welsh Government is inviting stakeholders to the International Prudent
Healthcare Summit on 9 July. The event is free to attend. Click on the ad below.
PUBLICATIONS
Public Health Wales: Child Measurement Programme for Wales, 2015. The report
finds a strong relationship between levels of unhealthy weight and deprivation in
Wales. 28.5% of children living in the most deprived areas of Wales were
overweight or obese, compared to 22.2% in the least deprived areas. For the
first time this year, the report also looked at the prevalence of obesity in rural
and urban areas. It found no significant difference between the two.
Wales Mental Health in Primary Care (WaMH in PC) report into the Experiences
the mental health workload is
perceived to be increasing and that GPs often do not feel it is an easy subject
area to manage. Over 50% of respondents identify that they are spending over
20% of their working days dealing with Mental Health issues.
of delivery primary mental health care.
IN THE NEWS
BBC:
£7.6m a year extra for child mental health budget in Wales
Mr Drakeford said that while money alone was not the answer for all challenges facing the NHS,
the changes the Welsh government was seeking to make were the "most significant for many
years".But Welsh Liberal Democrat leader Kirsty Williams has expressed reservations. "It's all
very well putting the resources in, but unless they're put in in a way that is really going to make a
difference, is going to be effective, then we won't get value for money and the people who really
need the money won't get the help they need in a timely fashion," she said.
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EVENTS
1. Living Well with Autism: Beyond the Limitations, 28th May 2015,
Manchester Conference Centre. Register your place Here
2. International Congress of the Royal College of Psychiatrists: Psychiatry at
the Forefront of Science ICC Birmingham, 29 June – 2 July 2015
3. RCPsych are holding a stakeholder meeting on 2 July 2015, at 21 Prescot
Street, regarding the new Accreditation Programme for Psychological
Therapies Services (APPTS). Please email [email protected] if you would
like to attend.
4. NEW International Prudent Healthcare Summit
http://www.prudenthealthcare.org.uk/summit2015/ (see Welsh Government
Section above)
5. Understanding dementia 2015 A Welsh Perspective 3 September, 2015
University of South Wales. CF37 4BD
https://www.dropbox.com/sh/vg85a0cnxpq39ph/AACzLPkIPhl8910AOkJVyX
PWa?dl=0
6. RCPsych in Wales’ Old Age Faculty annual meeting. 18 September, 2015
Details to follow.
CONSULTATIONS
Welsh Government: Health Professional Education Investment Review
25 May 2015
The Welsh Government is asking stakeholders to comment on the findings of a review of
the current arrangements to support the annual investment made across Wales in health
professional education and training. The review was conducted by and independent panel,
who were tasked to explore the arrangements currently in place and identify strengths and
weaknesses in the system.
Department of Health: No voice unheard, no right ignored
29 May 2015
The Green Paper is asking for views on changes to policy and legislation (including the
Mental Health Act) regarding the treatment of those with Learning Disability and Autism. It
is to ensure that no-one falls through the gaps.
If you would like me to include any information in future updates, or if you would like to respond to the
Consultations, please email me. [email protected]
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