Community mental health survey results

We have published the results of a survey looking at the experiences of more than 17,000 people who had contact with specialist community mental health services between July and September 2009.

According to the survey, the majority of respondents are generally very positive about the health and social care worker they had seen most recently for their mental health condition. However, the findings also show that some had not been involved as much as they would have liked in some aspects of their care.

The survey covered 66 NHS trusts. Participants included those referred to:
• psychiatric outpatient clinics
• local community mental health teams
• other community-based services

43 per cent of these respondents had their care coordinated under a framework called the Care Programme Approach (CPA). Find out more about the results here: http://www.cqc.org.uk/newsandevents/pressreleases.cfm?cit_id=36623&FAArea1=customWidgets.content_view_1&usecache=false

Key findings
The vast majority of participants said that the health and social care workers listened carefully to them, gave them enough time for discussion and took their views into account. Most people also said that they were treated with respect and dignity, and that they had trust and confidence in the health or social care worker.
However, many reported that they were not as involved in aspects of their care as they would have liked. Some respondents said they would have liked more explanation or more say in their treatment and support.
Find out more

• Read more about the key findings: http://www.cqc.org.uk/newsandevents/pressreleases.cfm?cit_id=36623&FAArea1=customWidgets.content_view_1&usecache=false

• Find out more about the survey: http://www.cqc.org.uk/aboutcqc/howwedoit/involvingpeoplewhouseservices/patientsurveys/communitymentalhealthservices.cfm

• Check how your local NHS Trust scored: http://www.cqc.org.uk/aboutcqc/howwedoit/involvingpeoplewhouseservices/patientsurveys/communitymentalhealthservices/mentalhealthservicessurvey2010a-zlist.cfm