News

Earlier this week, North London NHS Foundation Trust (NLFT) welcomed clinical colleagues from Portugal as part of an international partnership focused on mental health rehabilitation services.

From 2–6 March, nine senior clinical staff from Portugal spent a week as clinical observers within the Trust’s inpatient rehabilitation units at Highgate East. The visit forms part of an ongoing collaboration between NLFT, University College London (UCL) and the Portuguese Ministry of Health.

The observers, who work in roles equivalent to ward and service managers, spent time with multidisciplinary teams, attended care review meetings with patients and families  and took part in service discussions. The focus of the visit was on sharing learning around recovery‑focused rehabilitation and approaches that help people with complex psychosis to gain skills and confidence for community living and reduce the likelihood of readmission to hospital.

During the visit, the group met Dr Vincent Kirchner, Medical Director at NLFT, and Professor Helen Killaspy, Professor of Rehabilitation Psychiatry at UCL, who has been leading the collaboration.

A member of the visiting Portuguese clinical team said:

“It has been incredibly valuable to see how rehabilitation services are embedded within a recovery‑focused model of care. The emphasis on multidisciplinary working, meaningful activity and supporting people towards greater independence is something we are keen to take back and adapt within our own services.”

Professor Helen Killaspy added:

“The Ministry of Health in Portugal is building mental health rehabilitation services for the first time in Portugal. We were delighted to welcome our Portuguese visitors and show them the great work that goes on in our inpatient rehabilitation services in North London NHS Foundation Trust.  Mental health rehabilitation services play a vital role in supporting people with complex mental health needs to move towards recovery, and we are very pleased to continue to share our expertise and collaborate on this important international initiative.”