Description
Anyone hoping that the change of government would lead to a reduction
in the rate of change in the NHS and a period of relative stability must be
disappointed, though much that is happening should be welcomed. There is an
attempt to recreate a national health service based less on competitive markets
and more on co-operative partnerships. National recommendations through NICE
and the National Service Frameworks must surely help in this. Overlooked in
the National Service Frameworks for mental health we now hear that dementia
services will be addressed by the older persons framework, though time will
tell how detailed and how prescriptive these guidelines turn out to be. Systems
for managing clinical governance are being set up in every Trust with a commitment
to improve the quality of care of patients: a pleasant change to have quality
emphasised rather than quantity of care provided.
The GMC has announced its verdict on revalidation: the professional performance
of all doctors will now come under scrutiny every five years. Although the details
are still to be worked out, this is likely to be met with mixed views, as representing
further managerial control of doctors, or as an opportunity to ensure high quality
in medical care. The health select committee has recommended that social and
health service boundaries in long term care should be removed and domiliary
care charges should be scrapped. The Royal Commission on Long Term Care has
recommended making nursing care free for all with a charge levied for board
and lodging. If that was not enough to keep us busy on top of our clinical,
managerial and teaching commitments, we await the outcome of the comprehensive
rethink of the mental health act.
We work in interesting times!
If you have any time and energy left after responding to these challenges,
why not consider submitting articles to the Bulletin? Part of the attraction
in starting this project was to provide a forum for old age psychiatrists to
learn from each other in sharing clinical and academic experiences. Successfully
implemented audits, innovative services and educationally useful case presentations
are as valuable as systematic reviews in terms of professional and service development.
Publications appearing in the Bulletin are now peer reviewed, almost guaranteeing
authors promotion or discretionary points (or even revalidation)!
A particular welcome to those who missed the first edition of the CPD Bulletin
Old Age Psychiatry: we currently have a circulation of over 300 in the UK and
rising. This valuable CPD resource is available to all doctors specialising
in Old Age Psychiatry free of charge and it is my hope that it will reach the
great majority of them. If you are aware of someone who would like to receive
the Bulletin but is currently not on the circulation list, please contact the
publishers direct.
Andy Barker
