All age Mental Health

Our network was established in 2013 to develop a system wide approach to designing and maintaining mental health, dementia and neurology services across Wessex.

As a network we are aware of the significant healthcare challenges that mental ill health, dementia and neurological conditions present, and acknowledge there is still much to be done to improve clinical outcomes and experience for patients and their families and carers.

The raised national profile of these conditions provides an opportunity for service users, providers or commissioners to work together to reshape pathways, refocus investment, and deliver improved services.

Aims of the network

To develop the network to be a driver for transformational change across the health system in Wessex
To develop ways of working to increase the sphere of influence for change
To develop relationships with commissioners in order to inform good practice and develop services
To better recognise the wider areas of work
To drive service transformation through an effective and deliverable work plan
For the Network to seek evidenced solutions from outside Wessex to share across Wessex organisations and inform the addressing of local opportunity and challenge

To deliver the aims of the network, we will:

identify opportunities and challenges
horizon scan to be better prepared for future delivery including the sharing of trend data and trajectories
maintain oversight of the delivery of projects and solutions agreed across the region
support local governance frameworks
share and learn from intelligent and timely assurance data, and delivery plans

Read more about dementia on our dedicated network page.

One in four people in the UK will suffer a mental health problem in the course of a year. Mental health includes a range of conditions from mild depressions to serious mental illness.

It is known that marginalised groups are at greater risk of mental ill health and there is an acknowledged difficulty with engaging with people from minority groups. Physical and mental health are closely linked. People with severe and prolonged mental illness are at risk of dying on average 15 to 20 years earlier than the general population.

Key areas of interest

Improving Access to Psychological Therapies
Early Intervention in Psychosis*
Adult Crisis care pathways
Parity of esteem
Digital transformation
Rehabilitation and Out of area placement

*For more information on Early Intervention in Psychosis please visit the Time4Recovery website.

In 2013 the clinical network had a specific responsibility for neurology. Following a national review the remit of the clinical networks was realigned to support the delivery of the NHS England priorities.

However neurological pathways and services remain a source of shared learning in the ongoing design and management of long term mental health conditions.

Programme areas

The Clinical network has invested in a Community Neurology Long Term Conditions programme which is being delivered through the National Institute for Health Research Collaboration for Leadership in Applied Health Research and Care (NIHR CLAHRC) Wessex. This will provide the vehicle for developing neurology services as part of the long term conditions to improve the understanding of disease-specific critical events and patients’ post-diagnostic needs so that the right resources and interventions can be provided at the right time and in the right place to best assist them.
Development of the Rehabilitation, reablement, recovery and early supported discharge and survivorship strategic vision to ensure that high quality specialist rehabilitation improves patient outcomes for the clinical conditions of neurology, stroke, major trauma, complex musculoskeletal and cancer
Advice and Guidance project to understand the effectiveness and impact of alternative pathways for the management of neurological advice and headache management.

Improving mental health outcomes for children and young people is high on the national agenda.

We’ve used restorative practice to create shared values across the Wessex and Thames Valley region. It provides a strategic framework for managing challenge and support, and a way of providing strategic permissions for innovation and creativity.

Areas using this approach have seen significant improvements for children’s and young people’s outcomes and the quality and consistency of professional practice. You can hear more about that here in our short film:

You can read more about the work we’ve done on restorative practice at a recent event here.

The Wessex Health Lines website has been developed by the Network to serve as a resource for individuals and organisations collaborating to improve health and care in Wessex.

It brings together the areas of dementia, neurology, mental health and ageing. Research is an important aspect of current and future healthcare and the website also shares the research studies currently taking place in Wessex with summary outlines and recruitment criteria.

Take a look here.