A new initiative in Stockport has seen a team of health professionals pooling their knowledge to help improve the health and wellbeing of the people in the local area – it is a new regime which has garnered national success and recognition. The new scheme is to help people with lung disease receive dedicated support for mental health problems, from depression to anxiety, which is a common issue in people with a long term health condition. The mental health professionals from the Pennine care NHS Foundation Trust have partnered with the local lung disease team from the Stockport NHS Foundation Trust. The project has seen national recognition due to its success, beating fierce competition from around the country in order to become finalists in the mental health category of the Care Integration Awards for 2013. The scheme received the highest number of nominations in the history of the award.
The project offers so many benefits to patients and the NHS, such as improved mental and physical health, and a more successful partnership between health professionals. There is also a reduction in the number of visits to accident and emergency, and hospital admissions, which helps save the NHS money. Patients have offered positive feedback on the project, reporting high levels of satisfaction and that the additional support they’ve received has been life-changing. The service helps people to manage their conditions more effectively, as well as helping them to make a range of lifestyle changes to improve their health, such as quitting smoking.
Initially, the plan was supposed to run for a year. However, it has been so successful that the lung disease team is making changes to their service so that local residents can continue to benefit from the mental health therapy they’ve become accustomed to. Not only has the initiative helped people to lead healthier lives but it has also helped people get involved in social activities, so that patients can enjoy a happier way of life and control their disease more efficiently.