News & Events

Download the Guidance Document (Published February 2012)

The final version of the Guidance for Local Health Boards and Local Authorities on the Establishment of Joint Schemes for the Delivery of Local Primary Mental Health Support Services has now been released by the Welsh Government.

This document is aimed at providing guidance for Local Health Boards and Local Authorities in Wales to support the implementation of Part 1 of the Mental Health (Wales) Measure 2010.

Primary Care, Health Boards, Local Authorites and Practitioners all have an important role to play in the implemenation of Part 1 of the Measure which specifically deals with Local Primary Mental Health Support Services and how they are embedded within localities in a robust way.

The following documents may also be helpful in preparing for implementation of the Measure:

• The Mental Health (Wales) Measure 2010 and Accompanying Explanatory Notes
• Explanatory Memorandum, Incorporating the Regulatory Impact Assessment
• National Service Model for Local Primary Mental Health Support Services
• Draft Regualtions on Regional Provision and Accompanying Documents and the Subsequent Final Regulations
• Draft Regulations on Primary Care Referrals and Eligibility to Conduct Primary Mental Health Assessments and the
  Subsequent Final Regualtions
• Draft Order Amending the Definition of Secondary Mental Health Services and the Subsequent Final Order
• Implementing the Mental Health (Wales) Measure 2010: Guidance for Local Health Boards and Local Authorities December 2011

Further information on the Mental Health (Wales) Measure 2010 is available from:

• Mental Health Legislation Team, Welsh Government, Cathays Park, Cardiff CF10 3NQ.
• Telephone:029 2082 3294
• Email: mentalhealthlegislation@wales.gsi.gov.uk

Further information in relation to Part 1 of the Measure can be obtained from:

• Barbara Bowness, Primary Care Lead, Mental Health (Wales) Measure, National Leadership and Innovation Agency for Healthcare, InnovationHouse, Bridgend Rd, Llanharan CF72 9RP.
• Telephone 01443 233 333
• Email: barbara.bowness@wales.nhs.uk

If you have any questions about anything contained on this page or trouble downloading any documents please contact our Project Manager Lesley Hills via email at lhills@rcgp.org.uk or on 029 2050 4516. 

Download our latest Information Sheet - 10 Bipolar Disorder in Primary Care

Our latest Information Sheet outlines some of the primary mental health care needs of patients with bipolar disorder.

The aim of Information Sheet 10 - Bipolar Disorder in Primary Care is to improve primary care practitioners' awareness and knowledge of bipolar disorder.

Bipolar disorder - previously known as manic depression - is a recurrent disorder of mood characterised by episodes of depression and episodes of mania or hypomania (which is a milder form of mania).

Our Information Sheets are part of our aim to improve mental health services and have been developed to provide valuable information, training and support tools on primary care mental health in Wales.

The publication of our Information Sheets come under the set objectives or our Gold Standard Project which has set the goal of providing good communication on mental health issues at the heart of its work.

All our Information Sheets are available to download and view from our Information Sheets page.

If you have any questions about Information Sheet 10 or trouble downloading it please contact our Project Manager Lesley Hills via email at lhills@rcgp.org.uk or on 029 2050 4516.

The second of our ‘Free’ Mental Health (Wales) Measure Practice Sharing Days will be held at Ewloe in Flintshire in April. 

The aim of the event - which will take place at the St David’s Park (Village Hotel) on 24^th April -is to support the implementation of services under Part 1 of the Mental Health (Wales) Measure 2010 and look at examples of best practice from a North Wales perspective.  

The Mental Health (Wales) Measure 2010 which is planned to commence in October 2012, is a legal requirement and will have a significant impact on primary care in the coming year. 

Primary Care, Health Boards, Local Authorities and Practitioners all have an important role to play in the implementation of Part 1 of the Measure which specifically deals with Local Primary Mental Health Support Services and how they are embedded within localities in a robust way and would benefit greatly from taking part and coming along to the Practice Day.

 As part of our aim to increase awareness about the Measure please download Information Sheet 6 – A Briefing Note for GPs and Primary Care Practitioners Mental Health (Wales) Measure 2010  from our website which will provide you with detailed information about Part 1 of the Measure - from Royal Approval in December 2010 through to Implementation in October 2012.

The Practice Sharing Day is scheduled to last from 9.30 am until 5pm with delegate numbers limited to 100 attendees so please register early by completing a Registration Form.

If you have any questions about the event and registration please contact our Project Manager Lesley Hills via email at lhills@rcgp.org.uk or on 029 2050 4516.