Our Services
Trish Bennett takes over as Chief Executive Officer
Trish Bennett has officially begun her duties as Mersey Care’s new Chief Executive Officer after taking over the role on 1 November following the retirement of Prof Joe Rafferty CBE.
Trish has had a breadth of experience within the NHS, starting her career as a nurse, she has progressed through various leadership roles within the North West in both provider settings and at NHS England. She has also recorded an opening day message for service users, patients, carers, staff and stakeholders, which you can watch below.
Prof Joe Rafferty CBE signs off with his final blog
After 12 years as Chief Executive Officer of Mersey Care, Prof Joe Rafferty has signed off from his time with the Trust with a reflective blog on the changes that have taken place during his time in charge.
Talking Therapies service reopens in South Liverpool
Mersey Care’s face to face Talking Therapies clinic base in South Liverpool will be reopened for the first time since being forced to close during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The service, which aims to improve access for local people, closer to home, will be moving back into St Andrew’s Business Centre, 91-93 St Mary's Road, Liverpool, L19 2NL on 1 November and will be fully open for business on 4 November 2024.
NHS 111 – a new mental health option
A new way for people to access the right support in a mental health crisis has been introduced across the North West. Anyone needing urgent mental health support can now call NHS 111 and select the mental health option for 24/7 access to urgent support.
The service continues to be provided by Mersey Care, there’s just a new phone number to call. To allow everyone to get used to the new process, existing freephone crisis service numbers will continue to be active to make sure people always get the support they need.
Mersey Care leads pilot to integrate housing data into NHS records
Mersey Care has teamed up with a Liverpool housing association and a charity foundation in a unique project which will integrate social housing data into official NHS records and link them to health outcomes.
The pilot partnership with Prima Group and funded by social enterprise Fusion21 Foundation will allow the NHS to access key housing data - like living conditions, accessibility and locality - and will allow a more comprehensive understanding of those tenants' health needs and offer proactive support services tailored to individual requirements.
Mersey Care trials first Psychiatric Clinical Decision Unit (PCDU)
Mersey Care will trial the Trust’s first ever Psychiatric Clinical Decision Unit (PCDU) which will provide a comfortable place for service users to receive an extended mental health assessment.
The Mere Suite at Hartley Hospital in Southport will provide assessment rooms, overnight facilities, a dining area, bathrooms and outside space for service users aged over 18 who need extra time for their assessment.
Building Attachment and Bonds Service launches in Halton
Our award winning Building Attachment and Bonds Service (BABS) is to extend into Halton, helping parents who are having difficulty bonding or developing a relationship with their baby.
Please RSVP and find out more on our events calendar.
Musculoskeletal Service Community Appointment Day
Mersey Care is holding a community appointment day for musculoskeletal patients on their waiting list in Knowsley on 10 December 2024 at Knowsley Leisure and Culture Park, Longview Drive, Huyton, Liverpool L36 6EG.
The day will enable those on the waiting list to discuss their needs with clinicians, physiotherapists, allied health professions, charities, voluntary services, and other community partners.
The purpose is to provide services differently, removing some of the constraints that exist in the normal working day and making changes to help people cope with long term conditions.
Patients can register for an appointment in Knowsley online while professionals can also attend Volair Huyton in December to experience the event or for more information about the Community Appointment Days, please email chloe.webb@merseycare.nhs.uk
Mersey Cares shares first charity impact report
Mersey Cares charity has published its first impact report, which highlights their journey since founding in 2020 and celebrates the incredible projects and initiatives they’ve funded to make a meaningful difference in the lives of individuals across Cheshire and Merseyside.
Our Achievements
Mersey Care nurse wins RCN award
A Mersey Care nurse has won a prestigious Royal College of Nursing (RCN) award at their annual regional Black History Month conference.
Okey Ibuzo, a Practice Education Facilitator based at the Trust's V7 headquarters, was presented with the award at Quaker House in Liverpool to mark his outstanding contribution to the equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI) agenda.
Digital award for The Life Rooms
The Life Rooms was awarded 'Best use of digital for NHS Trusts' alongside Access Health Support and Care at the recent Health Tech Newspaper (HTN) Health Tech Awards.
They were presented with the award for their work in integrating the Rio system with Elemental which allows mental health professionals to refer service users directly to The Life Rooms for social prescribing support. This innovative project was a first for NHS trusts.
Clinicans can speedily refer their service users to pathways advisors at The Life Rooms for support with their social needs, such as housing, finances, employment, and more.
Mersey Care retain NAVAJO Charter Mark
Mersey Care has retained the NAVAJO Merseyside, Cheshire and Manchester LGBTIQA+ Charter Mark, an quality framework sponsored by In-Trust Merseyside and supported by the LGBTIQA+ Community networks across Cheshire, Wirral and Merseyside.
The charter mark identifies Mersey Care as demonstrating good practice, commitment and knowledge of the specific needs, issues and barriers facing LGBTIQA+ people in Cheshire, Merseyside and Manchester regions. It is also an assessment under the new EDIIE framework – Equality, Diversity, Inclusion, Intersectionality and Equity.
Estates team win national award
Our Estates and Facilities Team has won the prestigious Team of the Year Award at the Institute of Healthcare Engineering and Estate Management (IHEEM) Healthcare and Estates Awards.
The award was based on building five complex new mental health hospitals in the past eight years, managed several refurbishments and an £8 million annual backlog maintenance schemes over 250 sites. This has been delivered despite economic downturn, capital restrictions, international supply issues and the COVID-19 pandemic.
Our Research
Promoting ‘Count Me In’
Count Me In is being introduced across the Trust to widen participation in research. To ensure service users and carers are aware of Count Me In, we are rolling out a widespread communication campaign which includes information being added to Mersey Care patient letters and digital screens in services. You can find out more on the website.
Mood clinic engagement: considering how we gather information from service users
Mersey Care is developing a mood clinic following a workshop held by the Mental Health Research for Innovation Centre’s (M-RIC) Patient and Public Involvement and Engagement team with service user and carer representatives and public advisors
The aim of the workshop was to learn what should be considered to gather meaningful information from patients about their social needs.
Service users and carers spread the word about mental health research
Service user and carer representatives and public advisors from M-RIC marked World Mental Health Day (10 October) by visiting Liverpool Central Library to talk to members of the public about the importance of mental health research.
Find out more about their roles and the great work taking place within M-RIC’s patient and public involvement and engagement here.
Get Involved
NHS 10 year plan: have your say
Have you ever wanted to have your say about how the NHS is run and to highlight what is right and what needs fixing?
The Government is asking for your help to give your views on the strengths and weaknesses of the NHS to help inform their new 10 year Health Plan, which they aim to publish in Spring 2025. Just go to their dedicated website to register your views.
A&B Engineering supports volunteers at Peasley Cross Hospital Garden
Local contractor A&B Engineering has been working with Mersey Cares charity to make improvements at Peasley Hospital Cross garden, installing outdoor electricity to benefit the volunteers who maintain the space.
This game-changing addition will make a real difference, ensuring a more comfortable environment even when temperatures drop, and more opportunity for year-round growing.
Mersey Cares launches Secret Santa Appeal 2024
As the festive season draws near, many of us eagerly anticipate the joy and magic that Christmas brings. Yet for some children, especially those in care or facing tough circumstances, this time of year can be challenging.
Mersey Cares is excited to announce the launch of its 2024 Secret Santa Appeal, which offers the opportunity to buy a gift or make a donation to support children and young people using our services. Find out more and make a donation on the charity's website.
Join us for the BTR Liverpool Santa Dash
Fancy taking part in some festive fun through the streets of Liverpool and raising funds to support people across our communities? The BTR Liverpool Santa Dash is back for 2024 and we're looking for individuals and teams to take part for Mersey Cares.
The event takes place on 1 December and consists of a 5km fun run through Liverpool finishing at the Town Hall - and there's also a 'mini dash' for kids to enjoy. The entry fee includes a Santa suit in your choice of red or blue (adult and child sizes available). Find out more and register on the Mersey Cares website.
MC Magazine
Out now - MC Magazine Autumn issue.
Read real life stories on the following:
- Urgent care response team kept me out of hospital
- Beating loneliness – a psychologist explains
- How AI is taking therapy to the beach (or the football game)
- Gone Fishin’ – the special partnership helping men recover.
Join our stakeholder news mailing list
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