Help shape the delivery of the Community Mental Health Framework

Independent Mental Health Network (IMHN) is running five focus groups in December that each look at a different element of the NHS’ Community Mental Health Framework.

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Sirona Care & Health engagement event – Monday September 9th

Sirona Care & Health has recently been awarded the contract to deliver Community Health Services across the Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire area from April 2020.

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Your chance to get involved in a review of mental health services

Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire Clinical Commissioning Group (BNSSG CCG) has begun a review of mental health services across Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire.

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NHS Bristol, North Somerset & South Gloucestershire CCG Mental Health Conversations Event: 13th December

The next Mental Health Conversations event will focus on developing a mental health strategy for Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire.

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Further Consultation on Talking Therapies Services

Earlier in the year, we were contacted by Bristol North Somerset and South Gloucestershire (BNSSG) Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) about their consultation on Improving Access to Psychological Therapies (IAPT).

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Urgent Care Strategy Meeting – March 21

Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire Clinical Commissioning Group (BNSSG CCG) will be producing an urgent care strategy which will set out their future plans for commissioning urgent and emergency care across the whole area.  The CCGs’ aim is to ensure that their population has access to the best care from the right person in the best place and at the right time.

There will be a workshop to capture local people’s thoughts and the reasons for choosing a particular urgent and / or emergency care service.  The aim is to highlight areas where the system is not working and where the patient and carer experience is poor, as well as identifying the areas where urgent and emergency care services are working well.

Update: If you can’t attend the meeting on 21st March, but would like to feed into this important strategy, please fill out the following short survey: BNSSG Urgent Care Strategy Survey

Details of the workshop are:

Date:   Wednesday 21 March 2018
Start & Finish Time: 10 am until 12 noon
Venue:  Brook Way Activity Centre, Brook Way, Bradley Stoke, BS32 9DA  (Meeting Rooms A&B)

To book, contact: Pennie Jones, Patient & Public Involvement & Equalities Officer
Tel No:
0117 9474441
Email:  penniejones@nhs.net

Focus Groups for Carers on Talking Therapies

Talking therapies services (otherwise known as Improving Access to Psychological Therapies – IAPT) are being recommissioned and redesigned in Bristol, South Gloucestershire and North Somerset.  IAPT services provide support for adults who are experiencing low mood, anxiety and depression, stress, excessive worry or difficulties controlling emotions. These therapies are sometimes known as ‘talking therapies’.  Typical treatments include cognitive behavioural therapies, mindfulness, counselling, couples therapies, psychodynamic therapy, psychosexual therapy, and group-based support.

We’d like to invite you to attend a focus group so that we can make sure that your views on how these services could be improved, what should be included in the redesign and also, any positive experiences that you or the person you care for have experienced (if any) around talking therapies.

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Have your say on the re-design and re-commissioning of Improving Access to Psychological Therapies Services

Improving Access to Psychological Therapies (IAPT) is a programme to support people of all ages who are experiencing low mood, anxiety and depression, stress, excessive worry or difficulties controlling emotions. These therapies are sometimes known as ‘talking therapies’.  Typical treatments include cognitive behavioural therapies, mindfulness, counselling, couples therapies, psychodynamic therapy, psychosexual therapy, and group-based support.

The current contracts for IAPT jointly commissioned between Bristol and South Gloucestershire are delivered through 16 separate contracts as part of the model. Services are commissioned for all ages. Services are commissioned for adults only, with an additional 16-18 year old pathway to adult services.

Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire Clinical Commissioning Groups plan to re-design and re-procure a new IAPT service for people in Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire.

Have you say about this process via the following survey here. It is open until 12th January.

Carers Support Centre is planning to organise a focus group for mental health carers. If you are interested in taking part in this, contact Caroline McAleese.

Would you like to help make decisions about the new Integrated Urgent Care Service?

Integrated Urgent Care includes provision of NHS 111, out-of-hours and urgent care services.

Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs) plan to commission an Integrated Urgent Care (IUC) service for the residents of Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire. As a key part of this process, they are looking for two or three people to join in the procurement decision making processes. This could be a great way to make sure that carers views are heard at this important stage of the process.

What you will receive

If you become a member of the procurement evaluation panel, Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire CCGs will provide:

  • Expenses for travel in accordance with the CCGs’ policy for reimbursement of expenses for your involvement. You will need to check / be responsible to check if this impacts on means tested benefits you receive;
  • Support to carry out this role from a named member of the team;
  • Training with regards to procurement.

Who can get involved

BNSSG CCGs promote and support diversity and are committed to equality of opportunity for all. They particularly want to hear from people from black and minority ethnic communities and younger adults.

How to get involved

For further details, please go to the BNSSG website by early November.
This will take you to a page where you can express your interest in this role. If you have any further queries, please email contactus.bnssg@nhs.net with the heading Integrated Urgent Care Service Involvement.

Over the counter medicines consultation

Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire (BNSSG) CCGs have recently published details of the local Operational Plan for 2017/18 describing how local health budgets totalling £1.15 billion will be spent in the year ahead, to meet the health needs of the local population of nearly one million people.

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