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Read the latest news and updates at the North London NHS Foundation Trust.
Improving patient care with our research
Our internationally renowned research allows us to improve our clinical practice and deliver more for patients. What we do ensures we continue to advance our knowledge, improve outcomes and help shape the future of mental health services.
Recent research has highlighted how involving patients in decisions about their care can lead to better experiences, improved outcomes and safer services.
Highlighting the importance of patient centred care
We have been working with UCL , North East London NHS Foundation Trust and four other NHS trusts on a n Open Dia log ue trial , which is a collaborative way to support someone during their mental health care . The model places the whole family and their chosen support networks at the centre of treatment , instead of just the individual . Open Dialogue emphasises continuity of care, shared decision-making and open conversations between service users, family members, carers and professionals.
The findings of the trial , published in The Lancet Psychiatry , found that Open Dialogue was associated with significantly reduced inpatient bed use, alongside improvements in patient-reported recovery and quality of life.
Our Haringey Older People’s Community Mental Health Team participated in the trial and required a significant commitment from clinicians, peer support workers and leaders, who sustained the work throughout the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic while continuing to provide care to local communities.
Amy Jebreel, a consultant for the team and one of the study's contributors reflected on the achievement:
"It has been a privilege to work alongside the clinicians and peer workers who made this research possible in Haringey. Their commitment, including through the challenges of the pandemic, deserves recognition. It is very encouraging to see our local work contribute to the evidence informing future mental health care."
Putting patients at the heart of safety and care planning
Our patient safety team , working a longside co lleagues in one of our psychiatric intensive care units, carr ied out a n innovative quality improvement project focused on strengthening patient involvement in safety and care planning which explored how patient-led safety huddles can help create a safer and more therapeutic ward environment.
Traditionally, safety in psychiatric intensive care units has often relied on observation and surveillance. During this project however, the team in our Coral Ward sought to take a different approach by introducing daily patient-led safety huddles, enabling patients to share how safe they feel, discuss what would help them feel safer and influence activities and ward routines.
Using a co-produced approach, patients chaired the huddles with support from staff, ensuring that patient experiences directly informed decision-making. The project forms part of a long-standing quality improvement programme aimed at reducing violence and restrictive practices through person-centred care.
Following the introduction and consistent delivery of patient-led safety huddles, the ward saw increased patient engagement and participation in activities alongside a reduction in patient-on-patient assaults. Patients reported feeling more listened to, safer and better connected to staff and peers, while staff highlighted improved relationships, stronger understanding of pati ent needs and a more positive ward culture.
The team concluded that patient-led safety huddles are a simple, low-cost intervention with the potential to improve safety, reduce aggression and strengthen therapeutic relationships in PICU settings.
An abstract of the project’s findings " Changing the Perspective: Patient Led Safety Huddles in a Psychiatric Intensive Care Unit , " has been accepted and will be presented at this year's National Association of Psychiatric Intensive Care Units (NAPICU) Conference.
