Perinatal Section Newsletter December 2013
PERINATAL PSYCHIATRY SECTION NEWSLETTER
DECEMBER 2013
EDITORS:
Nusrat Mir
Renuka Lazarus
A WORD FROM THE EDITORS
The winds of change continue to blow against a background of austerity in the NHS.Our speciality like others is facing challenges as we battle with government cuts. In this issue there is depressing news about the closure of an inpatient unit mixed with positive news about the success of Perinatal psychiatrists in the fields of research and education. We also have an insight into the sterling work and achievements of the Action on Postpartum Psychosis and an update on Payment by Results (PbR).
May we both also take this opportunity to wish you all the very best for the festive season and a prosperous 2014!
Nusrat Mir
Consultant Perinatal Psychiatrist
Sheffield
(On behalf of the Editors)
INSIDE THIS ISSUE
1)A word from the Editors
2)Inpatient units under threat
3)Achievements of Action on Postpartum Psychosis (APP)
4)Academic success for Perinatal Psychiatrists
5)Update on Payment by Results
6)News from the UK and beyond
INPATIENT UNITS UNDER THREAT
As the era of austerity continues unabated in the UK, it has been confirmed that the Cardiff Mother & Baby Unit has closed and that Leicester mother and baby beds are under threat.
The three mother and baby beds in Leicester are threatened with closure in April 2014.
The 3 bedded inpatient unit in Cardiffwas the only unit in Wales and had been earmarked for closure as the Welsh NHS had to make 10% cuts to its budget. The unit has now officially closed. It is expected that some of the savings will be used to improve the community perinatal mental health service in Cardiff. There is also a hope that there will be better service provision for the whole of Wales in the future.
The Perinatal Section Executive Committee is to write a letter aimed at lobbying the Welsh Health Specialist Services Committee (WHSSC) and adding its voice to the campaign to improve perinatal mental health services in Wales.
ACHIEVEMENTS OF ACTION ON POSTPARTUM PSYCHOSIS
Action on Postpartum Psychosis (APP) was set up in 1996 by Prof Ian Brockington and Mrs Jackie Benjamin. From a core of 50 members it has grown to a network of nearly 600 women in the UK and around the world. Today, APP is run by a team of women who have experienced postpartum psychosis together with clinicians and researchers from the Universities of Birmingham and Cardiff.
Heather Heron, one of the organisation’s current trustees, has summarised some of its key achievements since its inception. I think it is clear to see that they have done some sterling work in raising public awareness of postpartum psychosis and continue to do so for which they are to be congratulated.
1) We have set up andmanageUK wide peer-supporters who have recovered from PP - whichoffers one to one email support and an online forum to provide supportandinformation to women and families ('PPTalk').Wehostfortnightlysocial mediadiscussions which enable women,partners, and others with a professional interestto speak openly and publically aboutPPissues.This will help address the lack of support and isolation many women and their families feel when recovering from PP and help to tackle stigmaby bringing PP out into the open.
2) We have set up a central web information resource for those affected by PP, which includes information on research, personal stories, and useful resources developed by world leading PP experts and those who have lived with the experience of PP.Our impressive and well-monitored website is currently receiving 18,000 hits per month.
3) We now have over 600 women members on our APP register who are invaluable in assisting us with research into the causes, care, outcomes and impact of PP, in developing resources for patients, health professionals, the media; and developing a comprehensive perinatal strategy for the future.Via a collaboration between Cardiff and Birmingham universities (ref Dr Ian Jones & Dr Jessica Heron respectively)we conduct and facilitate a variety of research studies: including Clinical & Molecular Genetic studies to help us identify genes and other factors which might increase the risk of PP.
4) We have run a media workshop to develop training materials for women and partners wishing to talk to the media about PP. We have set up a media panel of trained individuals with personal experience of PP to help raise awareness and understanding amongst health professionals, the media, the NHS andthe general public. We work with the media to get accurate information into the public domain and have a number of exciting projects in progress includinga PP film initiative with a renowned UK director.
We have producedinformativeshortfilms with women who have experienced PP to address stigma and misinformation in the public domain. Wehave promoted them widely through our website and social mediachannels. This summer an art project by Joan Molloy entitled 'How The Light Gets In' was exhibited at the BayArtGallery, Bute Street, Cardiff Bay. Joan worked with our PP members to interpret their experiences of PP in her artwork and the result was illustrated in this exhibition.The entire project entitled "Unravelling Eve" was also the subject of a radio 4 documentary.
5) We have conducted surveys, organised meetings& workshops for partners & husbandsto develop webinformation, leaflets andfilms addressing theinformationand support needs of partners during episodes of PP and recovery.
6) We are working with organisations to create health professional training modules, eg a midwives' module on "Bipolar Disorder and Pregnancy" with CardiffUniversity and a collaboration with Mental Healthcare TV.
7)We have recently established and co-ordinated a UK network of APP regional representatives to help us in campaigning, raising awareness of PP, fundraising, and offering support in local regions.
8) We work with mental health professionals and organisations in order to promote accurate information about PP and address misinformation. We have corrected PP information and we provide copy for websites aimed at pregnant women or new mums, for example NCT and The Royal College of Psychiatrists.
9) We have set up the Maternal Mental Health Alliance to bring together UK organisations interested in the mental health of women in the perinatal period. The MMHA has developed a 10 point manifesto and developed plans to undertake ongoing structured campaigning - for every woman to have access to quality perinatal mental health treatment, especially in terms of improved access to Mother & Baby Units (MBUs).
10) We have organised workshops, conferences & events for women who have recovered from PP.We produce an annual free magazine, which keeps our members and the wider public up to date with research, progress, news and details of how to get involved with APP.
11) We have created opportunities for women, partners and their families to get together at our annual (August) fundraising 'Purple Parties'. These help to open up discussions about PP, get families and friends together and spread the word about PP into our communities. 'Party packs' with support literature, balloons, stickers etc are available to those who wish to help us fundraise and raise awareness in a fun way.This July, in over 2 weeks,Sotheby's Staff Summer Exhibition raised money for APP. Please visit Sotheby's New Bond St galleries and/or buy a catalogue! In June this year the internationally famous Welsh Fron Male Voice choir sang in aid of APP at a charity concert in Wrexham. Many people have recently performed sponsored sporting feats for us - such that we are about to establish a charity sports manager to extend our reach in this area.
Heather Heron
Action on Postpartum Psychosis (APP) trustee
ACADEMIC SUCCESS FOR PERINATAL PSYCHIATRISTS
Congratulations are due to Louise Howard, Ian Jones, Margaret Oates and Alain Gregoire,members of the Perinatal Section Executive Committee, all of whom have this year been rewarded for their research and clinical achievements.
Louise Howard, Professor of Women’s Mental Health, Kings College London, was awarded a prestigious National Institute of Health Research (NIHR) Research Professorship.
NIHR professorships are awarded to health researchers with an outstanding record of clinical and applied research, and its effective translation for improved health. The award will enable Louise to spend five years dedicated to translational research in perinatal health.
Ian Jones, formerly Reader in Psychiatry at the University of Cardiff was made a Professor of Psychiatry by the University in August this year. This is a personal chair in the Cardiff University MRC Centre for Neuropsychiatric Genetics and Genomics and is in recognition of Ian’s cutting edge research into the field of psychiatric genetics and perinatal psychiatry as well as his contributions to undergraduate and postgraduate training. Ian was also named as the RCPsych Researcher of the Year at the recent annual awards ceremony in London.
Margaret Oates OBEwas also recognised by the RoyalCollege for her vast contribution to the field of perinatal psychiatry over the years by the RCPsych Lifetime Achievement Award.
Last but not least, the Hampshire Perinatal Service, led by Alain Gregoire, Consultant Perinatal Psychiatrist / Honorary Senior Lecturer, was a joint winner of the RCPsych Psychiatric Team of the Year 2013.
Well done to you all for keeping the flag of Perinatal Psychiatry flying in the world of academia and clinical psychiatry!
UPDATE ON PAYMENT BY RESULTS
At the Perinatal Section Executive Committee meeting in Manchester on 19th November 2013, Charles Musters, Consultant Perinatal Psychiatrist, East London, gave an update on Payment by Results (PbR) as it relates to Perinatal Psychiatry.
Care clusters are being piloted in England as a way of working out the funding for each clinical team. It was planned that funding would be based on these clusters from April 2014 but it will probably be delayed by another year.
Each patient receiving more than one episode of care is allocated to one of more than 20 clusters depending on their level of psychiatric need. The team will be paid a daily rate for the length of time each of their patients spends in a given cluster. This daily rate will range from
£9 (“Common mental health problems, low severity”) to £86 (“Psychotic crisis”). Clusters work with HoNos: based on their HoNos scores, there will be clusters which are more or less likely for a given patient.
The Perinatal Section Executive Committee is currently engaged in a review of the care clusters and their applicability to Perinatal Psychiatry.
It is hoped that further updates can be given in future newsletters.
Dr Charles Musters
Consultant Perinatal Psychiatrist
East London
(Adapted by Dr Nusrat Mir)
NEW YORKSHIRE PEER GROUP
A new Peer group for Consultant Perinatal Psychiatrists in Yorkshire & Humber has been set up. Drs Mir (Sheffield Perinatal Mental Health Service), Narayan (Leeds Perinatal Mental Health Service), Garg (Hull Perinatal Mental Health Service) plan to meet regularly to discuss how to meet current challenges in Perinatal psychiatry that are being faced both regionally and nationally.
It is also envisaged that there will be opportunities to have case-based discussions, share ideas and support each other. This specialist peer group joins others in the UK including London, Scotland / North East (Newcastle).
The first meeting of the Yorkshire peer group took place on 25th October 2013 in Sheffield.
At the meeting it was noted that the Yorkshire & Humber Mother and Baby Unit, Leeds had opened its sixth bed earlier in the month. Dr Gopi Narayan, Consultant Perinatal Psychiatrist said "This is a step forward for Yorkshire perinatal services but is still not enough to meet the needs of the Yorkshire population".
STOCKHOLM CALLING: ROYAL COLLEGE LEAFLET TO BE TRANSLATED INTO SWEDISH
The Royal College of Psychiatrists information leaflet entitled ‘Postpartum psychosis: Severe mental illness after childbirth’ is to be translated into Swedish. This was announced by Dr Ian Jones, Vice Chair of the Perinatal Section Executive Committee at the Executive Committee meeting on 18th September 2013.
The decision followed a highly successful fact-finding visit to London by a group of Swedish psychiatrists based in Stockholm.
The visit involved seeing how Perinatal psychiatry services work in the UK and took place at the Margaret Oates Mother and Baby Unit, in Hackney, London. The Swedish delegates were so impressed by not only the clinical services but the public education work being done by the Royal College Perinatal Section Committee that they requested permission to translate the leaflet which has been granted by the RoyalCollege.
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