Service User Experience in Adult Mental Health : NICE Guidance on Improving the Experience of Care for People Using Adult NHS Mental Health Services

This NICE guidance is the first ofits kind to assess the evidence for improving service users' experience ofhealth services.

A number of recent government initiatives have highlighted theimportance of taking service users' views and experiences of UK healthcareservices into account, in order to improve the quality of their care - yet moreremains to be done. This is particularly the case forusers of mental health services, many of whom have high levels ofcontact with services, can experience stigma and can be detained under theMental Health Act.

With almost a quarter of adults in England having adiagnosis of a mental health problem, improving their experience of care is ofparamount importance. This book examines the evidence forand gives recommendations on how to improve the quality of mental healthservices provided in seven main areas: access to community care; assessment(non-acute); community care; assessment and referral in crisis; hospital care;discharge and transfer of care; and detention under the Mental Health Act.

Italso makes recommendations across the whole of the care pathway, with aparticular focus on improving the relationship between the mental healthservice user and healthcare professional. The book details the methodologydeveloped for this unique piece of guidance.

An accompanying CD-ROM containsall the data used as evidence. The guidance is intended for allmental health professionals working in secondary care, commissioners andservice providers.