Mental health articles

Every health district within the UK will have at least one in-patient ward
for adults with mental health problems. These wards are for anybody who
is an adult of working age. They are normally based on a general hospital
site and are staffed by mental health nurses, with daily support from psychiatrists
and occupational therapists. Each ward will generally have 15 to
20 people staying there. Whilst on the ward people will be assessed and
then a treatment plan will be implemented. Each person will be allocated a
psychiatrist and a named nurse. The named nurse is responsible for
ensuring the care plans are written, implemented and reviewed. People on
theward may or may not be detained under the Mental Health Act (1983).
In-patient services have close links with Community Mental Health
Teams and each person on the ward will be allocated a community worker
for when they are discharged (if they do not already have one).
One of the main aims of ‘Valuing People’ is that people with intellectual
disabilities will use general health services wherever possible, and this
includes in-patient services. People with intellectual disabilities who need
to be admitted into hospital are more likely to use general in-patient
services if they have mild intellectual disabilities.