GM CLAHRC develops links with National CLAHRC Mental Health Teams
Mike Spence, Knowledge Transfer Associate for Greater Manchester CLAHRC, recently attended the National CLAHRC Learning Together event, in London. The event showcased the work of various CLAHRCs in mental health, specifically focussing on the Improving Access to Physical Therapies (IAPT) services. Mike said: “It was a really thought provoking event, a lot of learning was shared amongst the CLAHRC’s especially around possible ways to encourage better access to IAPT services throughout the country.” During the event, Mike was interviewed about how the GM CLAHRC was enabling the implementation of evidence in NHS practice. To view the video please click here. The GM CLAHRC is currently involved with a number of mental health projects. One of these is the COINCIDE (Collaborative Interventions for Circulation and Depression) trial; this aims to evaluate the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of collaborative care in treating symptoms of depression in patients that have coronary heart disease (CHD) and/or diabetes. Collaborative care is a method of care management in which the patient, medical doctors and other specialists collaborate to design and deliver a structured care programme for the patient. Evidence from studies carried out in theUSA suggests that collaborative care may be beneficial to patients with depression as well as CHD and/or diabetes. The COINCIDE trial hopes to confirm these findings within the NHS. The trial has been running for six months and is on target to recruit the necessary number of psychological teams, GP practices and patients. Recruitment will continue until late into 2012 and study results are expected mid-2013. For more information please click here The GM CLAHRC is also collaboratively working with Manchester Mental Health and Social Care Trust (MMHSCT), and the Manchester Academic Health Science Centre (MAHSC) on a project focussing on improving the physical health of severely mentally ill service uses. This is a new project, focussing on the development of an integrated physical health pathway of care. The project is initially working with the North West Community Mental Health Team, which covers the areas around Harpurhey, Cheetham Hill, Blackley, Collyhurst and Crumpsall. More information about this project will be available shortly, in the mean time if you have any questions please contact Mike Spence.
Date Published: 15/06/2012