New rapid response service for mental health
A brand new service launched last month to provide a rapid response for Royal Bolton hospital patients who are identified as having mental health needs. Greater Manchester West Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust (GMW) will be providing the service that is operating within Royal Bolton Hospital. NHS Bolton Clinical Commissioning Group has invested over £700,000 in the round the clock, Rapid Assessment Interface and Discharge (RAID) Service to improve patient care.
Karen Hodgetts, Assistant Director for Bolton Mental Health Services at GMW said: “We recognised a need for this service and we know it will make a huge difference to the care of patients with mental health needs. The RAID team will provide a quality service to speedily assess, advise and treat patients when needed and if necessary will support a timely, safe discharge from hospital”.
At present, up to 60% of patients admitted to hospital in Bolton have a mental illness, such as dementia or depression. In most cases this is in addition to a physical illness or injury that prompted their admission. Hospital staff are trained to deal with physical health needs but may not always have the necessary skills to deal with mental health problems. The new RAID service will mean that in addition to treatment for their physical health, patients can also benefit from a rapid specialist assessment from a mental health professional. Another role of the team is to offer support and training to the staff at the Royal Bolton Hospital so that they can feel equipped and confident in caring for people with mental health problems more effectively.
Identifying mental health problems early will help to reduce the length of a patient's stay in hospital, make re-admission less likely, and for those who attend A&E it may prevent them being admitted altogether. This is particularly important for those with dementia. For someone with dementia, being away from their normal surroundings is particularly disruptive and can lead to deterioration in their condition.
Dr Barry Silvert, Clinical Director for Integrated Commissioning at the CCG said: "Today is the culmination of a great deal of work by NHS Bolton Clinical Commissioning Group. I am very pleased to see the new RAID service now in operation because I know that it will make a huge difference to patient care."
"Early diagnosis of mental health conditions means that patients get the help they need much sooner, which is good news for everyone. This can dramatically improve their quality of life as well as relieving pressure on our local health services."
