Background and Context

In August 2011, following a request from the DH to the Quality Observatory network, Quality Intelligence East (QIE) and North East Quality Observatory System (NEQOS) started work on developing the national mental health indicators.  There was some urgency for an early draft to support the Mental Health FT pipeline process.  An Advisory Group of mental health clinicians and data experts, including QO representatives, was established and has met regularly ever since to help steer the project.

A draft version was made available confidentially to DH in September, using a similar format to East Midlands Quality Observatory's Acute Trust Quality Dashboards.  Since then several indicators have been updated and a number of draft versions of the profiles have been shared with most NHS mental health providers.

Given the availability of mental health data the development of this project has been, and continues to be, an iterative process.  We aim to start work on Version 2 at the end of June with a view to publishing them in September 2012. Between these dates we also hope to host face to face meetings or events with representatives of as many trusts as we can, to increase engagement and ensure the project continues to build satisfactorily over time.

If you have any queries about this process please contact Mike Streather, Associate Intelligence Analyst at QIE (mike.streather@erpho.org.uk), or Aileen Muir, Associate Development Manager at QIE (Aileen.Muir@erpho.org.uk).

Release of Version 1

The National Mental Health Quality Profiles have been developed in partnership by Quality Intelligence East (QIE), for the Midlands and East Quality Observatory (MEQO), and North East Quality Observatory System (NEQOS).

The published version available on the Quality Intelligence East (QIE) website is the final release of Version 1. This and previous iterations have been shared with all Trusts and feedback has been noted and incorporated into the latest release; to date four trusts have requested that we withhold their V1 profile.

We will be working closely with all trusts to develop Version 2, which we are aiming to publish in late-Autumn 2013, followed by Version 3 in March 2013. More details are available from aileen.muir@erpho.org.uk or mike.streather@erpho.org.uk.