News & Events

Winners of 2013 WaMH in PC Mental Health Bursary Programme Announced

Submitted by WaMH in PC on Fri, 22/03/2013 - 13:51

The winners of the 2013 WaMH in PC Bursaries programme have been announced.

In total 6 bursary applications were received this year and the final winners year were as follows:

  • The Powys Children and Young Peoples Bibliotherpy Scheme - Reading Buddy Intervention - Partnership between CAMHS and Powys Children and Young Peoples Partnership (CYPP) aiming to empower children and young people to more effectively communicate their thoughts and feelings and make changes to improve their mental health and well-being
  • Dementia Outside Care (DOC) - A Crossroads Care Bridgend project aiming to improve the experience of dementia patients and their carers

Our annual programme of bursaries offers small grants up to a maximum of £3,000 and this year we have decided to award projects which encourage innovation in the following areas:

  • Improve the experience of dementia patients and their carers
  • Supporting the local delivery of Part 1 of the Mental Health (Wales) Measure 2010.
  • Raise awareness of mental health or impact on mental wellbeing or improve mental health promotion

This year we have decided to open up the application criteria to specifically include projects aimed at dementia as part of our strategy to support the National Dementia Vision for Wales.

Applications were open to anyone with a link to Primary Care Mental Health in Wales and those able to demonstrate a clear and justifiable benefit in relation to the aims of our bursaries programme.

If you're interested in finding out more about our bursaries please contact us via email at lhills@rcgp.org.uk or on 029 2050 4516.

RCGP Launches First International Appeal To Aid Global Health

Submitted by WaMH in PC on Thu, 21/03/2013 - 12:28

Our parent organisation is launching its first international appeal in a bid to put family medicine at the heart of global health.

As part of its 60th anniversary celebrations, the Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP) has joined forces with Voluntary Service Overseas (VSO) to create 60 for 60.

Based on realising the goal of creating a ‘world where family medicine excellence is at the heart of healthcare’, the appeal aims to raise £60,000 to fund work in Africa's developing nations.

This is equivalent to just £1.30 from each of the RCGP’s 46,000 members and would make it possible to start the project which aims to establish a legacy to empower local health workers in sub-saharan countries to deliver and teach effective primary care in their own communities.

Specifically, 60 for 60 aims to improve maternal and child health mortality rates through the provision of sustainable, community-based health promotion and training -  with programmes run by embedded GPs - starting in Sierra Leone.

The ambition isSierra Leone is a country recovering from a brutal 10-year civil war and which has some of the worst health indicators in the world.

To make a small donation (of £10 or under), text RCGP60 and the amount £1, £2, £3, £5 or £10 (for example RCGP60 £10) to 70070 or make a donation via the 60 for 60 Just Giving page.

WaMH in PC has an interest in the College as we were established by its Welsh branch back in 2003 to act as a special interest working group to promote primary mental health care and improve mental health services across Wales.

Getting The Measure Right Free Events

Submitted by WaMH in PC on Mon, 18/03/2013 - 10:07

We are offering health practitioners a unique opportunity to meet with key professionals and develop best practice in primary care mental health with 2 free events during the month of May.

Each event will help health boards to benchmark how they are progressing in developing services under Part 1 of the Measure, to share best practice and use a panel of experienced professionals from across Wales to assist managers and staff to develop innovative solutions to problems that have been encountered.

Our "Getting the Measure Right!" interactive, half-day events support the implementation of Part 1 of the Mental Health (Wales) Measure and are aimed at:

  • Managers
  • Team Leaders
  • Primary Care Mental Health Support Staff at all levels
  • Policy Makers
  • GPs
  • Health Boards
  • Local Authorities
  • Third Sector

We would encourage boards to send staff from all levels to ensure the learning reflects the reality of how their services run and are also looking to benefit from the experience of practice-based staff, team leaders and managers.

The first event is due to take place on 2nd May 2013 at Technium OpTIC in St Asaph followed a week later by a second event on 9th May 2013 at the Richard Ley Development Centre in Swansea.

Each day will involve an intense and practical meeting with concrete and effective outputs which will make a difference to both staff and patients and places are limited so please book early.

To register please complete our Getting The Measure Right Registration Form and return the completed form via email to our Project Manager Lesley Hills at lhills@rcgp.org.uk.

Numbers permitting - you will receive a confirmation email in due course with further details about the programme for each day available on our Getting The Measure Right Flyer.