A SERVICE for people experiencing severe mental health issues across Worcestershire has been awarded commendations for excellence in its latest review.
The ECT (Electroconvulsive Therapy) service received a 100 per cent compliance rating across all accreditation standards following an evaluation.
The inspection was carried out by Electroconvulsive Therapy Accreditation Service (ECTAS) – an external body under The Royal College of Psychiatrists.
All the service’s aspects, including safety, patient experience, and everyday procedures, were evaluated. Patients who had used the service were interviewed and the result was based on their feedback.
The review concluded no corrective actions for the service. It urged the team to ‘share the good work with other clinics’.
The team consists of specialist anaesthetists and psychiatrists who provide specialist treatment to patients across Worcestershire who need the treatment.
A common use for ECT is treating patients with severe depression who have not responded well to medication. It’s also used when illness is having significant adverse impacts on their quality of life.
Kay Fisher, the service’s lead practitioner, said:
“To achieve all four has never been done in Worcestershire before and is also an uncommon achievement within the ECTAS network as a whole, so I am absolutely over the moon, as is the rest of the team.
“Last year we carried out one of the highest number of treatments so I’m very proud of what the team has achieved here.
“We always strive to do our best and put patients at the heart of everything we do, so receiving such an honour, especially based on such positive patient feedback, feels very heart-warming and was a really nice way to end the year.”
During her time within the service, Ms Fisher has become known for delivering life-changing mental health treatment and also received the Barry Reynolds Award.
The Royal College of Psychiatrists has honoured the service with an award for patient experience.
Gemma Diss, the associate director of Specialist Mental Health and Learning Disability Services, said it was fantastic to see the commitment and all the hard work undertaken by the team had been recognised.
“I’m glad that we are able to provide such a service to help the community, let alone at this level of competence.
“To see such strides for mental health support in the country and in the NHS is truly inspiring.”
