Plan aims to end discrimination in mental health services
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《英国医生杂志》
The way black and other ethnic minority people with mental health problems are treated by health and social care services in England is to be scrutinised under new reforms aimed at ending discrimination in mental health services.
The inquiry into the death of David "Rocky" Bennett has prompted new policies for the NHS
Credit: EMPICS/PA
The action plan, entitled Delivering Race Equality in Mental Health Care, was launched this week by the health minister Rosie Winterton. It is part of the government's response to the independent inquiry into the death of David "Rocky" Bennett, a black patient who was being treated for schizophrenia and who died in 1998 after struggling with nursing staff at a clinic in Norwich ( BMJ 2004;328: 367).
Rates of compulsory admission are significantly higher for black and other ethnic minority groups, and they stay in hospital longer, said Ms Winterton. Patients from such groups are also more likely than white people to be prescribed drugs or electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) rather than psychotherapy or counselling. These differences fuel the "circle of fear" that can deter black and ethnic minority patients from seeking early treatment for their illness, she said.
"We know what the problems are. There are significant and unacceptable inequalities in the access to mental health services that black and ethnic minority patients have, in their experience of those services, and in the outcome of those services," said Ms Winterton. "We've made some progress, but not enough. Now we have a clear and comprehensive action plan for making sure that progress continues and accelerates."
Under the reforms, primary care trusts will be expected to provide more responsive services based on the needs of the local population. Their performance, and that of other NHS trusts, in challenging discrimination and providing equal access to all patients, will be assessed by the Healthcare Commission.
The five year plan also commits the NHS to better race equality training for staff. As part of the scheme, ￡2m ($3.7m; 2.9m) is being made available to the independent sector to help primary care trusts to identify black and ethnic minority voluntary and community organisations that can advise them and, in some cases, act as partners in delivering services. Primary care trusts will be supported by 500 new community development workers.
"We expect by 2010 that we will see a service characterised by a reduction in the disproportionate rates of admission and compulsory detention of patients, a more balanced range of effective therapies, increased patient satisfaction, and less fear of services among communities," said Ms Winterton.(Zosia Kmietowicz)
The inquiry into the death of David "Rocky" Bennett has prompted new policies for the NHS
Credit: EMPICS/PA
The action plan, entitled Delivering Race Equality in Mental Health Care, was launched this week by the health minister Rosie Winterton. It is part of the government's response to the independent inquiry into the death of David "Rocky" Bennett, a black patient who was being treated for schizophrenia and who died in 1998 after struggling with nursing staff at a clinic in Norwich ( BMJ 2004;328: 367).
Rates of compulsory admission are significantly higher for black and other ethnic minority groups, and they stay in hospital longer, said Ms Winterton. Patients from such groups are also more likely than white people to be prescribed drugs or electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) rather than psychotherapy or counselling. These differences fuel the "circle of fear" that can deter black and ethnic minority patients from seeking early treatment for their illness, she said.
"We know what the problems are. There are significant and unacceptable inequalities in the access to mental health services that black and ethnic minority patients have, in their experience of those services, and in the outcome of those services," said Ms Winterton. "We've made some progress, but not enough. Now we have a clear and comprehensive action plan for making sure that progress continues and accelerates."
Under the reforms, primary care trusts will be expected to provide more responsive services based on the needs of the local population. Their performance, and that of other NHS trusts, in challenging discrimination and providing equal access to all patients, will be assessed by the Healthcare Commission.
The five year plan also commits the NHS to better race equality training for staff. As part of the scheme, ￡2m ($3.7m; 2.9m) is being made available to the independent sector to help primary care trusts to identify black and ethnic minority voluntary and community organisations that can advise them and, in some cases, act as partners in delivering services. Primary care trusts will be supported by 500 new community development workers.
"We expect by 2010 that we will see a service characterised by a reduction in the disproportionate rates of admission and compulsory detention of patients, a more balanced range of effective therapies, increased patient satisfaction, and less fear of services among communities," said Ms Winterton.(Zosia Kmietowicz)