New Horizons on mental health and wellbeing

NORTHAMPTONSHIRE Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust has welcomed the “New Horizons” consultation published by the Department of Health this week.

The New Horizons consultation focuses on a new approach to mental health and wellbeing, making mental health everyone’s business. It is also about good practice and providing patients with a better experience while they are in hospital.

Northamptonshire Healthcare has been part of the Star Wards initiative since 2007, which was founded by Marion Janner following her experience as a patient in a London hospital in order to improve patients’ experience of hospital life.

Star Wards covers seven themes:

• recreation and conversation


• physical health and activity


• visitors


• care planning


• talking therapies and self management


• ward community


• patient responsibility

Staff and service users have all been involved in the development of Star Wards at Northamptonshire Healthcare.

This has led to a wide range of new activities across all wards, including therapeutic activities, armchair hockey, arts and craft sessions, pampering sessions, tea dances and more recently music therapy.

Last year, inspired by Star Wards, Berrywood Hospital took on a nearby allotment. Patients, their families and friends, staff and volunteers have taken on growing fruit and vegetables.

More recently, Berrywood Hospital has been holding “Inspirations!” events for its service users. “Inspirations!” is an evening event held monthly for service users, families and carers. The evening’s events range from magicians, arts and crafts, comedians, musicians and cooking.

In February this year, John Hegley, poet and performer attended an “Inspirations!” event at Berrywood Hospital and entertained service users with music, poetry and comedy.

The public consultation period runs until 15 October 2009. You can find out about and take part in the consultation by visiting the Department of Health website at http://www.dh.gov.uk.