‘Excellent’ rating for Wakefield specialist mental health suite

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A specialist mental health treatment unit in Wakefield, run by South West Yorkshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, has been recognised by the Royal College of Psychiatrists for its continuing excellence.

The Briarfields unit, which provides specialist treatment including electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) for people with severe mental health problems, has been awarded ‘accredited with continuing excellence’ status for the seventh year in a row by the Royal College of Psychiatrists’ ECT Accreditation Service (ECTAS).

The criteria clinics are expected to meet to be accredited includes providing disabled access and facilities and introducing the patient to all the people who will be present during their treatment. The unit was able to demonstrate that they met the criteria to an excellent standard – earning them the highest level of accreditation.

The ECTAS is run by the Royal College of Psychiatrists and sets out to assure and improve the quality of the administration of ECT across the country. As well as providing a quality assured service for people who need to use it, becoming accredited by ECTAS also allows the achievements of staff to be recognised and for services to receive detailed advice and support to improve.

Clare Charles, senior clinical practitioner at Briarfields, said: “Receiving the accreditation shows that we’re an effective and efficient team. It shows that not only are we safe, we’re going above and beyond.

“Patients will know that the service they receive is following the guidance set by the Royal College of Psychiatrists and their care is of a high standard.

“We are always pleased to receive the accreditation when we get it – the criteria changes every year so to continually meet it is great.”

South West Yorkshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust provides mental health, learning disability and community services to people in Barnsley, Calderdale, Kirklees and Wakefield. The Trust also provides some medium secure (forensic) services to the whole of Yorkshire and the Humber.

For more information about services provided by the Trust, visit www.southwestyorkshire.nhs.uk

‘Excellent’ rating for Wakefield specialist mental health suite

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