Share your experiences of mental health in Dorset

Dorset clinicians want to hear the experiences of local people who have used mental health services to help understand what is working across the county and what could work better.

Views are being sought by local health organisations and three local authorities as the first part of a review which will help improve services for adults that have serious mental health needs.

A number of view seeking events are taking place throughout the county during July and August with people being invited to come along to learn more about the review and share their experiences.

For people who are unable to make the events or would prefer not to attend, views can also be given via an online survey or by filling in a freepost postcard, hundreds of which will be available throughout Dorset via a range of organisations including Dorset Healthwatch, Rethink Mental Illness, Richmond Fellowship, Dorset Mental Health Forum and Dorset Mind and at all mental health outpatient venues across Dorset.

The survey can be accessed via the NHS Dorset CCG website www.dorsetccg.nhs.uk along with a schedule of events and a list of venues where the postcards are available.

Dr Paul French Clinical Chair, Mental Health and Learning Disabilities with NHS Dorset CCG said “During this first part of the review we want to hear the experiences of as many people as we can who have used mental health services in Dorset which will help us shape future services and improve them.

We have scheduled these events to take place both during the day and early evening at each venue in order to help people who want to attend but may have other commitments.

We appreciate that not everyone will be able to or wish to come along to a public event so we are also encouraging people who want to give us their views to pick up a postcard and send it back to us or complete the online survey. In the same way as we would review services for physical health, the more views we get, the more we can understand how things could work better”.

A spokesperson from Dorset HealthCare said “We are constantly looking for ways to improve and urge the local community and service users to share their experiences through view seeking events, online or by post. Working closely with our local partners and receiving feedback enables us to ensure our services are the best that they can be.”  

Any organisations who would like to get involved in the project can contact the CCG via [email protected]. 

 View seeking events take place as follows:

There is space for up to 40 people to attend each workshop. Anyone who would like to attend is being asked to register in advance by emailing [email protected] or calling 01202 541946.

The review includes

·         Community Mental Health Teams;

·         Crisis Resolution Home Treatment Teams;

·         Inpatient Assessment and Treatment wards;

·         Psychiatric Intensive Care;

·         Psychiatric Liaison Service;

·         Street Triage Service;

·         Local Authority Out of Hours Service;

·         The Recovery House;

·         Specialist Psychological Services.

The term serious mental health need includes severe depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, personality disorder and psychosis. The review is being conducted by

·         NHS Dorset Clinical Commissioning Group;

·         Dorset HealthCare;

·         Dorset County Council;

·         Bournemouth Borough Council;

·         Borough of Poole.

If you have any questions or queries please contact Keith Williams on 07767 006786 or email [email protected].