National Assembly for Wales

Health and Social Care Committee

Post-legislative scrutiny of the Mental Health (Wales) Measure 2010

Evidence from North Wales Community Health Council – MHM 02

From my point of view I can offer the following based on HIW reports as well as Delivery and Support Unit reports:

1c - The “measure” has become a somewhat bureaucratic exercise.  The pathway processes tend to be designed to reassure managers that the forms are being filled in correctly rather than really impacting on quality of care.

1d - Yes, certainly they are involved, but how meaningfully?

1i - It has had no impact.  The priorities for the NHS in Wales is still dominated by such things as Ambulance, A & E and elective surgery waiting times.

3a - Without effective IT support the laudable aspiration for seamless transition between primary, community and in patient services will be difficult to achieve in rural services.

3b - We are continuing to see pressure being brought to bear on Mental Health Budgets despite the “measure”.

3c - See above.