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Specialist psychiatric rehabilitation teams – a historical anomaly?

Newham Rehabilitation and Recovery Team, Warton House, 150 High Street, Stratford, London E15 2NE, email: marc.lyall{at}elcmht.nhs.uk,

Dirk Claassen, Consultant Psychiatrist

Newham Rehabilitation and Recovery Team

For many years, psychiatric rehabilitation teams worked to resettle patients from the long-stay ‘asylums’ into the community. This process is now virtually complete and with rising financial pressures in the National Health Service specialist rehabilitation services are under threat in many parts of the UK (Holloway, 2005).

In 2004 a review was undertaken of all people in high-support placements, largely residential homes, funded by the London Borough of Newham, and 30 people, most with chronic schizophrenia, were felt to no longer need the level of support they were receiving. Community mental health teams were encouraged to refer these people to the Newham Rehabilitation and Recovery Team, with aim of aiding their resettlement in more independent accommodation.

Two years on we reviewed the case notes of the 30 people that were originally identified. Nine had successfully moved on, mainly to housing schemes offering a few hours of support each week. Two placements had failed within a short period; both people had alcohol problems. Cost savings were estimated to be in excess of £200 000. Team members felt that a person’s enthusiasm to move was related to the likely success. Close links with the council housing department were also thought to be important.

Our small study suggests that specialist rehabilitation teams can be effective in moving people with mental health problems into more independent placements. This can produce substantial financial savings and fits the College’s vision for rehabilitation services to reduce secondary handicap and promote social and cultural reintegration (Royal College of Psychiatrists, 2004).

References

HOLLOWAY, F. (2005) The Forgotten Need for Rehabilitation in Contemporary Mental Health Services. Royal College of Psychiatrists. http://www.rcpsych.ac.uk/pdf/frankholloway-oct05.pdf

ROYAL COLLEGE OF PSYCHIATRISTS (2004) Community Mental Health Care (Council Report CR124). Royal College of Psychiatrists. http://www.rcpsych.ac.uk/files/pdfversion/cr124.pdf

This Article Full Text (PDF) Submit an eLetter Alert me when this article is cited Alert me when eLetters are posted Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via CrossRef Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Lyall, M. Articles by Claassen, D. Search for Related Content PubMed Articles by Lyall, M. Articles by Claassen, D.