Rapid Assessment Interface and Discharge (RAID)

People of all ages with mental health issues have historically not always been treated efficiently in their interaction with acute hospitals. Our Rapid Assessment, Interface and Discharge (RAID) service, the first of its kind in the UK, ensures patients get help for mental and physical health at the same time – delivering the care that people need, when they need it. The government’s mental health strategy, No Health Without Mental Health, recognises that mental wellbeing is closely linked to physical health – and the need for mental health awareness to be raised in primary care and acute hospital settings.

This award-winning service which was launched at City Hospital in December 2009 is also accredited the Royal College of Psychiatry’s Psychiatric Liaison Accreditation Network.  In November 2010, less than a year after the service was launched, the RAID team won the prestigious Health Service Journal Award for innovation in mental health. Such is the success of RAID in improving patient experience; it is now being rolled out to all acute hospitals in Birmingham.

Adapting this model of care provides better care for patients in acute hospitals; ensuring people receive the most appropriate care quickly.  Furthermore, it has also resulted in higher satisfaction for clinicians and has greatly contributed to reducing overall NHS expenditure by using fewer acute beds and resources required in A&E departments. A recent evaluation report by the London School of Economics found that for every £1 that is invested in RAID, £4 is saved by the health economy. 

RAID is a true QIPP approach. It uses innovation to improve quality and productivity through good partnerships across the health economy, and by working together to improve efficiency, it can most importantly, improve patient experience.