Nurse helping influence national practice
A nurse from South West Yorkshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust is influencing national NHS guidelines, that impact on the lives of young people with schizophrenia or possible psychosis, after being chosen by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) as a member of their Guideline Development Group.
Darryl Thompson, who works for the Trust as a mental health nurse, made it through a comprehensive application process to be involved in developing and writing the NICE guideline for ‘Psychosis and schizophrenia: recognition and management of psychosis and schizophrenia in children and young people’.
The Guideline Development Group consists of 13 professionals, including some of the national leads in early psychosis, and three service user/carer representatives.
Darryl’s specialist area is early intervention in psychosis and his role includes working with the other members of the group to identify and advise on key issues; decide on the clinical questions to review; review summaries of research evidence; identify priorities for economic analysis; and agree recommendations for national practice.
This particular NICE guideline covers those under 18 who have a clinical diagnosis of schizophrenia, who are at risk of developing psychosis or who have early psychosis but do not have a formal diagnosis of schizophrenia. The planned key outcomes of the guideline include better recognition of the conditions, earlier treatment, and improvements in the experience of care for children, young people and their families.
Darryl said, "I was keen to be part of this work to support the promotion of best possible practice for young people developing a potentially life changing health problem at such a crucial stage of personal development.
"I feel very privileged to have been chosen as a group member and it is so interesting to sit in the same room as such knowledgeable people and talk this issue through. It is also really positive that the Trust has been so supportive of me undertaking this work."
Darryl’s involvement in the development group will also help to support the Trust’s own compliance with recommendations of NICE Guidance, and help colleagues to stay up-to-date with the latest research.