The Care Quality Commission has published the results of its 2011 survey of people who use community mental health services

Key findings include
 
“The vast majority of participants said:

•that they were listened to carefully, treated with respect and dignity and that they had trust and confidence in the health or social care worker they had seen most recently.

•that they could contact their care co-ordinator if they had a problem, and that their care was well organised.

•they had an out-of-office contact number they could call for emergencies.

The results showed that people needed to be more involved in some aspects of the provision of their care.

•Around a quarter of those who were prescribed new medication said that they were not told about the possible side effects.
 
•There remains a proportion of respondents who said that they did not know who their care co-ordinator or lead professional is.

•A tenth of those with a care plan said that they did not understand it. ”
Cynthia Bower, CQC chief executive commented on the survey:
“The new cross-government strategy for mental health outcomes, “No Health Without Mental Health”, was launched in February. One of its overall aims is to improve outcomes for people through high-quality services that are accessible to all.
“The results of the community mental health survey this year and in the future have been identified in the strategy as one of the key sources of information to assess progress in improving people’s experience of care and support.
“I think it’s fair to say that those who took part in this year’s survey were positive about some aspects of the services they received but many found that some of their needs were not fully met.
“I know we are entering a period when resources may be stretched even further than they have been before. But I urge all those who provide community mental health services to strive to maintain, and where possible raise, the levels of care. I also call on commissioners of services to study the survey results and use the levers that are available to them to improve outcomes for people who use these services.”
More information is available on the Commission’s website
http://www.cqc.org.uk//newsandevents/pressreleases.cfm?cit_id=37515&FAArea1=customWidgets.content_view_1&usecache=false
http://www.cqc.org.uk/aboutcqc/howwedoit/involvingpeoplewhouseservices/patientsurveys/communitymentalhealthservices.cfm