Mental health transfers (FOI)

​Request

Please could I ask the following questions:

A

Is it considered acceptable practice for someone who had been put under the care of the mental health services for a number of years to be transferred from one sector of the service to another without an assessment or diagnosis leading to any kind of treatment plan?

B

What is considered by the relevant authorities to be the likely effect of such a person ultimately being told they are too ill with stress and related conditions to be treated at all?

C

In what circumstance are public sector health professionals prevented from writing reports in support of their patients in accordance with their professional bodies' regulations / codes of conduct as regards acting as their patient's advocates?

Response

A

Where an individual’s care / support is being transferred between distinct teams within mental health services, a professional discussion and agreement between teams is the expected practice. This would include a handover of relevant information to enable the accepting team to continue or develop the plan of support, and a discussion with the individual, outlining the reason(s) for the transfer of care.

B

This would not be expected practice. If the question relates to a specific individual’s circumstances, the individual can raise this with the senior leadership team for review.

C

Further information is needed to clarify which professional group is being referred to, in order that this question is considered for response.