This article presents the preliminary findings from a qualitative study of what users of mental health services need from psychiatric and mental health nurses. The study has found that, ideally, nurses need to give time and energy, emotional commitment and knowledge to clients.

Attitude to Health↗

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Launching the Tidal Model in an adult mental health programme.

AIM: To implement a new model of psychiatric nursing that uses person-centred care to empower people with acute mental health problems. METHOD: A pilot study involved the introduction of the model into two wards in the acute mental health services in Newcastle City Health Trust. This was followed by introduction of the model into all nine adult acute wards in the service. One ward was evaluated for six months before and six months after introducing the model and nurses' perceptions of the model have been assessed using questionnaires. RESULTS: Preliminary findings of the ward evaluation show that since the model has been implemented, more people have been admitted on an informal basis and fewer have been subject to sections of the Mental Health Act (MHA); the number of admissions has doubled while the length of stay has decreased; violent incidents and episodes of self-harm have decreased; the use of restraint has decreased; and the interval between admission and assessment has decreased. Preliminary analysis of the nursing questionnaires shows positive perceptions of the model. CONCLUSION: The introduction of this model appears to have had a positive impact on the care being given to patients and the nurses using the model appear to be satisfied with the use of patient-centred care.

Adult↗

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Dermatology outpatients in the West Midlands: their nature and management.

There is a lack of routinely available information about dermatology outpatient consultations which form the majority of the clinical work of this specialty. This survey was undertaken to prepare for clinical audit and assist in planning future developments of the service. Data were recorded from 2,940 outpatient consultations held during one week by 20 consultant dermatologists and their staff in the West Midlands Health Region in November 1988. The results show that collection and analysis of Regionwide data for a small specialty is feasible, and have indicated future areas of study for clinical audit.

Data Collection↗

PubMedDate not supplied