8 August 2012
Press release number:
Redbridge Council and North East London
NHS Foundation Trust (NELFT) have developed proposals to transform
child and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS) for young
people living in Redbridge.
A public consultation on the proposals will run until 12
October. If agreed, it is hoped that the joint proposal will
improve services for 18 year olds with mental health problems
receiving care and treatment in the Hear and Now counselling
service based at Broadway Chambers, Ilford and the Redbridge
Specialist CAMHS service at Loxford Hall, Ilford.
The proposals are to give young people and their families have
quicker access to these services through the implementation of a
triage service.
The triage service will mean all young people would go through
at a single point of entry to mental health services, which would
assess and determine which service would best meet the needs of the
young person/family, and how urgently the response is required.
Currently, emergency referrals are seen within 24 hours and
urgent referrals within five working days. Routine referrals may
mean young people can wait up to eleven weeks for an initial
appointment before being put in touch with the appropriate
service.
The proposals will also ensure that:
● services are provided according to national guidelines; with new
developments in Children and Young Peoples Improving Access to
Psychological Therapies.
● services are provided within the financial resources available
and are best value for money.
Steve Jones, service manager for Redbridge CAMHS said:
“Referrals to CAMHS can currently be very complex and varied due to
the nature of child development, mental and physical health, family
and social issues. One of the core functions of a CAMHS assessment
is to determine whether the person is at risk of harming themselves
or others. The benefits of this proposed triage service would be
that there would be an immediate assessment of need, rather than
the current situation where ‘routine’ referrals can wait for up to
11 weeks before being seen.”
Steve Jones added: “In developing these proposals we have looked
at evidence of best practice, and worked with local GPs, clinicians
and other professionals. We believe these proposed changes will
improve the services we provide for young people locally. However,
it is important that we listen to our service users, their families
and local residents to help us improve our services, so now we
would like to encourage people with an interest to have their
say.”
You can find more information
about the proposal here.
If you would like the opportunity to ask questions you can also
attend a meeting on Wednesday 22 August 2012 from 6pm to 8pm
at Tantallon House, Goodmayes Hospital, Barley Lane, Ilford, IG3
8XJ.
For further details, or to book a place, contact Sandra Davis on
0300 555 1200 ext 8512.
Responses to the consultation should be sent to:
Redbridge CAMHS Service Consultation
CAMHS and Psychological Services Directorate
Thorpe Coombe House
714 Forest Road
E17 3HP
Or, you can send your feedback by email
to:nelft.consultation@nhs.net Please put ‘Redbridge CAMHS services’
in the email subject line.
The consultation runs until 12 October
2012.
