In last year’s survey, we received 270 responses from adults aged 18 and over, who used the survey to tell us what is working well and what requires improvement.
Feedback gathered through the survey has supported a number of actions taken by the Trust to improve services. This includes updating our website to more clearly signpost to urgent mental health support, including MPFT’s 24/7 helpline for people in mental health crisis.
In response to feedback from service users, the Trust is exploring the development of a new digital system to enhance the way in which a patient’s experience and views can be captured. In addition to this we have widened our approach to gaining feedback and actively sought the views of adults who received a mental health inpatient stay of at least 48 hours in the past 12 months. This feedback will help us to improve learning and support with additional improvements in service delivery.
Liz Lockett, MPFT’s Chief Nurse and Director of Quality and Professional Leadership said: “The Community Mental Health Survey provides a key opportunity for individuals who use our mental health services to provide feedback on their quality and safety of care they have received.
“Your opinion matters to us, so we would like everyone invited to take part to be able to share their experiences with us.”
Mel Ball, MPFT Director for Lived Experience said: “The Trust has long recognised and embraced the keen insight that people with experience of our services can bring in further developing them for the benefit of the communities we serve.
“We are committed to improving the experience and outcomes for everyone using our services, their families, and carers, and the survey provides a valuable opportunity to have your voice heard and we'd be really grateful to everyone generous enough to take the time to contribute.
“Alongside other engagement methods, involvement and co-production workstreams, hearing feedback is a key aspect of the journey to ensuring our services meet the needs of our communities. To find out more about other ways to get involved and join us on the journey please visit https://gettinginvolved.mpft.nhs.uk.”
This year, for the first time, the survey will be inviting people aged 16 and over to share their experiences of care. This is really important to help us understand how well young people’s care is transitioned as they move into adult services.
The survey can be completed online or as a paper questionnaire. The survey is confidential and carried out by the Care Quality Commission and a dedicated Survey Coordination Centre at Picker, on behalf of NHS England. The responses are not shared with our staff, so participation will not affect your care or treatment.
The results will be published in the spring of 2024 and will be used to assess community mental health trusts in England. What we learn will enable us to identify key priorities, aiding our mission to provide the very best care for you and our community.
If you are invited to take part, whether contact with our services was regular or minimal, know every voice is valued.
If invited to take part in the survey and need help completing it, please call 0800 783 1775.
For more information about the survey, please visit www.cqc.org.uk/cmhsurvey.