Independent investigation: Valerie Sexton, Gosport (2000)

We recommend that where a person is assessed by mental health services and information of clinical significance, including matters with a bearing on risk assessment, concerning a person who is not currently receiving treatment from the service is disclosed to … Read more We recommend that where a person is assessed by mental health services and information of clinical significance, including matters with a bearing on risk assessment, concerning a person who is not currently receiving treatment from the service is disclosed to clinical staff, a record should be made. This should be sent either to the person’s general practitioner, where the person has a general practitioner, or where the person concerned is a patient of specialist mental health services, to the consultant psychiatrist in charge of the patient’s care and should form part of the person’s medical records. Show less

We recommend that consultant psychiatrists and other doctors should always make a full note in a patient’s medical records of matters of clinical significance which arise in the course of a consultation. This should be in addition to any correspondence. Read more We recommend that consultant psychiatrists and other doctors should always make a full note in a patient’s medical records of matters of clinical significance which arise in the course of a consultation. This should be in addition to any correspondence. Show less

We recommend that whenever a consultant psychiatrist has seen a patient, and following the consultation will be retaining clinical responsibility, a follow-up appointment should be made for the patient.

We recommend that: 1. There is a need to clarify the application of the Joint Operational Policy to consultant psychiatrists. 2. The CPA documentation should be revised to make clear where consultant psychiatrists are not expected to use forms and … Read more We recommend that: 1. There is a need to clarify the application of the Joint Operational Policy to consultant psychiatrists. 2. The CPA documentation should be revised to make clear where consultant psychiatrists are not expected to use forms and checklists which have been designed for use by other practitioners within multidisciplinary teams. The present position, whereby a letter to a general practitioner is an adequate substitute for the prescribed care plan documentation, should be retained in cases where the consultant psychiatrist is the Care Co-ordinator and there is no wider multidisciplinary involvement in the patient’s care. 3. Every patient who is referred to specialist mental health services should receive an initial risk assessment which should be recorded using the standard Risk Screen document, which incorporates the risk management plan. 4. Where the initial risk assessment identifies a significant risk to self or others, the completed Risk Screen document should be copied to the patient's general practitioner with any letter sent by the psychiatrist. Show less