DMH 02 Memorandum from Pat Cull
From Pat Cull - carer(long term).Member of National
Schizophrenia Fellowship. (Now Rethink) Have previously given
feedback to the Genebra Richardson Committee.
Answers to SCOPE. (Particular interest - schizophrenia)
1.The Bill must recognise people as unique individuals,
with differing needs and backgrounds - family, ethnic, and religious.
2. Definitions of mental disorder are changing with
the improved scan technology, but this is not available to many
patients.
3. It is the human rights of mentally ill people
to receive appropriate treatment and care for their condition.
The decision will at times need to be made on their behalf when
their mental capacity is either temporarily or permanently impaired
by illness. Schizophrenia is a fluctuating condition, depending
on the appropriate treatment being given, and backed up by social
provision relevant to the patient's residual abilities. Many/most
are unable to work, but require occupation. Their abilities should
be recognised in their assessment which takes TIME, as many are
able to maintain a perfectly normal condition for a short space
of time. The illness is, however very exhausting.
4. There are too few psychiatric beds and other suitable
placements available. There are too few staff trained in the psychiatric
discipline.
5. As in 4. Too few beds/placements, some in secure
accommodation.
6. There needs to be adequate training of staff,
and adequate checking of their qualifications and experience in
undertaking a very stressing and distressing condition. Also family
involvement can be restricted by the confidentiality which exists
in the professions, and the Data Protection Act. This can be
assisted by group work with families, with explanation of the
disability and its affect on thought processing.
There should not be confusion between severe and
enduring mental illness and personality disorder.
7. Too few staff, too few resources - too little
inter-disciplinary communication. Too much increase in suicides,
resulting in long and expensive enquiries, which remove funds
from patient care, and give great distress to family members.
8/9. Special attention is required for patients
suffering from fluctuating illness such as schizophrenia, and
a continuum of care maintained, possibly for life-time. This may
include a register of patients at risk, which brings into question
the Human Rights Act. Refer back to 3.
10. Finances have already been cut by 5% in some
Trusts for those with severe and enduring mental illness. This
is antagonistic to the statement made by Sir Nigel Crisp - "
in all of these areas attention needs to be given to addressing
inequalities in access to services and health extremes, with special
efforts made to reach the most disadvantaged in society".(Who
more disadvantaged than those with severe and enduring mental
illness?)
People with mental illness are unable to negotiate
the complexities of the Benefits system, unlike many physically
disabled people, who anyway arouse sympathy from their apparent
condition. This should receive attention before the patient is
discharged into the community. Many also require special needs
housing.
I would also suggest that more diversionary schemes
are put in place when a mentally ill person enters the penal system,
usually through neglect of medication, and of follow-up by the
M.H.services should the patient default from appointments.
September 2004
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