The NHS is in a state of flux, facing wholesale reforms drawn up by the coalition. What is your take on the White Paper?
It seems that the coalition government is selling its White Paper as the major shake-up of the NHS since it was established, giving providers of health care greater autonomy, involving GPs in the commissioning process and so on. All these are aimed at improving patient care and experience on one hand, but on the other these also introduce the concept of any willing provider - which means anyone can bid to provide healthcare. Potentially, the focus could shift towards purchasing a cheap service rather than a good quality one. The Health Secretary Andrew Lansley says “No decision about me, without me” is at the heart of the White Paper and he believes that patients should have more choice and more information on treatment outcomes to be made available to them. However, we must be careful that a postcode lottery situation does not develop with some GP consortia deciding to purchase one type of care while another refuses. Therefore at this point in time, I am yet to be convinced that the White Paper will be able to ensure that our patients receive a solid, sustainable and a sensible service.
How can GPs gain a better understanding of mental health issues?
I think GPs have a reasonably good understanding of mental health issues but there may be a handful of GPs who may not have adequate understanding of mental health issues. Hence, regular mental health awareness training may be made available through local teams like CMHTs to their catchment area GPs. However, identifying mental health issues is one aspect but to be able to refer to the appropriate service/seek appropriate input is another aspect. My personal experience is that the GPs do have not enough information about the services that are available to the patients that will meet their specific needs. Hence, I believe that they will appreciate information about the services that are available to address the mental health needs of their patients. This could be achieved by several means including having clear and adequate information on websites, providing face to face contact, sending regular updates on new services or pilot projects like for example, Head for Health at Yewcroft and Longbridge pilot project by email to individual GPs.
Do you think GPs have a role to play in helping to tackle the stigma attached to mental illness, if so how can they work to address this issue?
Yes, of course, GPs have a role to play in helping to tackle the stigma attached to mental illness. Patients may be reluctant to talk to their GPs for the fear of not being listened to or understood by them. Educating patients will reduce the reluctance among them to open up to their doctors. GPs play a vital role in allaying that fear among patients by paying more attention to their mental health needs and imparting the feeling that they are being listened to and being taken seriously.
