Sustained performance in mental health care

South West Yorkshire Mental Health NHS Trust has sustained its two-star rating in the Healthcare Commission’s performance ratings published today.

The Trust serves people with mental health problems and learning disabilities in the Calderdale, Kirklees and Wakefield areas. The two-star award matches last year’s performance rating and highlights the sustained improvements that the Trust has made.

Judith Young, chief executive, has sent a personal message of thanks to the Trust’s 2500 staff who work from over 100 different sites. She said, ‘We are very pleased to have retained our two stars. This is a fabulous achievement in a year when staff have worked hard to introduce new models of service and to continue to improve services in line with what people said was important to them.

‘We have made a lot of positive change, in response to what service users and carers told us they wanted, for example, increased community services to support people at home. We have worked hard to offer services that are modern and effective and that meet the needs of individuals, and I am very proud of the continued commitment and professionalism of our staff.

‘I would also like to thank people who use our services and their carers who have helped us in planning and moving services forward, and our partners in health, local authorities and the voluntary sector. ‘