Final Mersey Care AGM for Prof Joe Rafferty CBE
This year’s AGM, held at Aintree Racecourse, attracted a healthy attendance and gave delegates the chance to interact with services directly beforehand at the marketplace, where staff explained what they do and provided further information.
Attendees were given reports on the Trust’s performance during the last year from Chair Rosie Cooper, Chief Executive Officer Prof Joe Rafferty CBE and Chief Executive Officer Designate Trish Bennett. Chief Finance Officer Rob Collins, Chief Medical Officer Dr Noir Thomas and Acting Chief Nurse Jenny Hurst all spoke and answered questions from the audience at the end of the afternoon session.
There were also speeches and presentations to Prof Rafferty, including a Liverpool FC shirt, who was attending his final AGM ahead of his retirement at the end of October.
Sir Julian Hartley visits Trust
Pictured above: Sir Julian Hartley with Chair Rosie Cooper, Chief Executive Officer Designate Trish Bennett
Chair Rosie Cooper and Trish Bennett (centre) welcomed Sir Julian Hartley, Chief Executive Officer at NHS Providers, to Clock View Hospital, where he learned about the many physical and mental health services provided by the Trust.
Donna Robinson, Divisional Director of Mental Health Care Division, and Lynne Hughes, Deputy Divisional Director Mental Health Urgent Care, shared insight into mental health urgent care services, including Core 24 at A&E departments, the new award winning triage response team and Crisis Resolution Home Treatment Teams.
He also heard about the 10,000 people who call our crisis line each month and the responsive call system that is unique to Mersey Care.
New DVT pathway accessible via Mersey Care walk-in centres (WICs) and urgent treatment centres (UTCs)
A Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT) pathway has been put in place in collaboration with Liverpool University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust (LUHFT) and West Lancashire Teaching Hospital, for all patients who have a GP registered in Liverpool, South Sefton or Knowsley.
The pathway provides same day assessment, investigation and diagnosis or exclusion of a DVT, for patients attending Mersey Care’s UTCs or WICs. This community offer is quicker and closer to home for patients, whilst also helping to reduce hospital admissions.
To make a referral to the DVT pathway, please call our Single Point of Contact (SPC) on: 0300 323 0240.
The DVT pathway is available seven days a week from 8am to 8pm, including bank holidays. The service is also available for patients who self present. All sites are currently offering this service except for Kirkby Urgent Treatment Centre, which is going live on 14 October 2024.
For further information, contact Rachel Williams, Clinical Director for Same Day Urgent Care at rachel
Ex-armed forces, cadet or reservist? Make a difference with a career at Mersey Care
Mersey Care attended Merseyside’s Armed Forces Recruitment Fair in Liverpool recently, to promote career opportunities at the Trust within the armed forces community. We recognise that those who have served in the armed forces have the skills, dedication and commitment we need to continue providing exceptional care to our patients and service users.
The Trust’s commitment to supporting ex-forces, cadets and reservists is recognised by our Gold Award from the Ministry of Defence’s Employer Recognition Scheme. That means supportive HR policies, a dedicated armed forces network and 10 days additional paid leave for serving reservists.
More information is available on our website while you can find out more about job vacancies for those from the armed forces community below.
Our Achievements
Mersey Care services - In the News
The BBC’s flagship news programme, Radio Four’s Today programme, featured two of our services recently to highlight the work of therapy in aiding crime prevention before offences have been committed.
During the feature, Dr Lisa Wright and Dr Mark Walton from the Trust’s Forensic Psychology service were interviewed and Dr Lisa Marsland spoke about the Building Attachment and Bonds Service (BABS).
Pictured above (left to right): The service user’s poem read out during the feature and (left to right) Dr Mark Walton and Dr Lisa Wright interviewed by BBC correspondent Dominic Casciani.
One of our Community Integrated Care Team Co-ordinators, Katy Wafer, also featured on BBC One’s ‘The One Show.’ Katy talked about a mental health charity, Fishing the Mind, a support group which brings people with mental health issues together with a shared interest in fishing.
Mersey Care’s services recognised in HSJ Patient Safety Awards
Mersey Care's Mental Health Triage and Response Team being presented with the Seni Lewis award was the highlight of a successful night for the Trust at the annual HSJ Patient Safety Awards.
The new team, formed in October 2023 to support the increasing demand on services for patients detained under Section 136 (Mental Health Act 1983), fought off stiff competition to win the Seni Lewis Award, while our Patient Safety Team was shortlisted for Team of the Year. The HOPE(S) model was highly commended for Learning Disabilities Initiative of the year. More information can be found in the news section of the website.
Our Research
M-RIC survey shows service user and carer involvement is working
Results of a survey of service users and carers shows the value of their involvement in the Mental Health Research for Innovation Centre (M-RIC) to themselves and their professional colleagues.
The survey was created by Terry Bryant (pictured below), who is one of 10 service user and carer representatives recruited by M-RIC to work alongside researchers. More information is on their webpage.
New website research and innovation pages
The Trust has relaunched its research and innovation webpages to showcase the vast amount of research projects it is involved in, the work of its research centres and new initiatives such as ‘Count Me In.’
New paper published on mental health nursing
A new paper, titled Navigating challenges and shaping futures through mental health nursing in the United Kingdom, co-authored by Oladayo Bifarin, Mersey Care’s Research Effectiveness Lead, Deputy Ward Managers Lucy Kinsey and Amy Madden and Dean McShane from Liverpool John Moores University has been published.
The paper was published in the Journal of Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing. It focuses on the crucial role played by mental health nurses in areas such as reducing mental health inequalities, adopting new digital technologies and social prescribing, to improve care and treatments, advocating for patients, co-ordinating care and introducing innovative solutions.
Mersey Care expands focus on global mental health inequalities research
Nusrat Hussain, Mersey Care’s Research and Innovation Director and Honorary Consultant Psychiatrist, has been appointed head of the Trust’s Global Centre for Research on Mental Health Inequalities.
Prof Hussain will continue in his current role until 1 April 2025 before ending his role as M-RIC’s co-director, although he will continue his work on addressing inequalities.
During his time at M-RIC Prof Hussain oversaw a significant rise in research studies and trials, with active clinical trials currently taking place in areas such as psychosis, mood disorders, perinatal, COVID and telehealth.
"It’s been an honour to contribute to such a transformative organisation,” said Prof Hussain. “I look forward to continuing this journey of reducing inequalities and improving mental health care locally, nationally and globally."
The recruitment process for a new Director of Research and Innovation at Mersey Care will take place in the coming weeks.
Get Involved
Count Me In starts roll out across Mersey Care
Count Me In, the new system which will make it easier for patients and service users to get involved in research activities at Mersey Care, was also prominent within the marketplace section at the AGM. More information about the initiative can be found on the webpage or by watching the new animation.
Pictured above: Trish Bennet, Mersey Care’s Chief Executive Officer Designate, supports the new Count Me In campaign.
MC Magazine
MC Magazine’s Autumn issue is available in print and online now. Some of the thought provoking content includes:
- Black History Month
- The recovery of a determined stroke survivor
- Investigates how immersive therapy is being used by the Trust to treat patients with dementia and learning difficulties
- An interview with 3 Dads Walking about their mission to educate young people on suicide prevention
- Expert advice to address phobias and reduce loneliness.
Join our stakeholder news mailing list
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