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Proposal for a Special Interest Group in Primary Mental Health Care

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 January 2018

Mike Shooter*
Affiliation:
Royal College of Psychiatrists, 17 Belgrave Square, London SW1X 8PG
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Abstract

Type
The columns
Creative Commons
Creative Common License - CCCreative Common License - BY
This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC-BY) license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted re-use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Copyright
Copyright © 2001. The Royal College of Psychiatrists

Procedure for establishing a special interest group:

  1. (a) Any member wishing to establish a special interest group shall write to the Registrar with relevant details.

  2. (b) The Registrar shall forward the application to Council.

  3. (c) If Council approves the principle of establishing such a special interest group then it will direct the Registrar to place a notice in the Bulletin, or its equivalent, asking members of the College to write in support of such a group and expressing willingness to participate in its activities.

  4. (d) If at least 120 members reply to this notice, then Council shall formally approve the establishment of the special interest group.

In accordance with this procedure, Council has approved the establishment of a Special Interest Group in Primary Mental Health Care.

Standards II and III of the National Service Framework for Mental Health state that people with common mental health problems should have their needs identified and assessed in primary care, with management occurring along locally agreed guidelines as far as possible either in primary care or with recourse to community resources, using NHS Direct and other care pathway management systems for guidance. Evidence suggests that there is a need for standardisation with regard to care pathways at the primary/secondary care interface. It is envisaged that a special interest group in this area could provide a forum for members of the College sympathetic to these issues to share ideas and experience in this area.

Joint meetings and conferences with the Royal College of General Practitioners could be organised as part of the process of consultation and liaison, and members of that College could be invited to join the group, once established.

Members are invited to write in support of this group and express willingness to participate in its activities. Interested members should write to Miss Sue Duncan at the College. If 120 members of the College reply to this notice, then Council shall formally approve the establishment of this special interest group.

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