How to Make Choice in Mental Health a Reality

Tuesday 3rd June, 10.30am - 1.30pm
11 Tufton Street, London, SW1P 3QB

Event Speakers; Dr Ian McPherson, Director of the National Institute for Mental Health in England
Bert Johnson, Rethink

Event Chair;

Choice has been one of the key planks of healthcare reform in recent years. In order to develop a patient centred service it is now widely accepted that choice for patients is both intrinsically desirable and a driver of improvement in service standards. This roundtable discussion will discuss how choice in mental health can become the norm rather than an exception.

Choice in mental health has been a neglected area despite the government’s own figures showing that at any one time one in six adults in England is affected by mental distress.  In September 2006 the Healthcare Commission published the findings of its first national review of adult community mental health services which showed access to specialist community mental health services needed to be improved.

Choice for users of mental health services is now moving up the political agenda.  This round-table discussion is a timely opportunity to bring together a group made up of senior civil servants, influential academics, patient groups, medical professionals from the field and others with an expert knowledge to discuss the way forward.

This event is run with the kind support of Janssen Cilag as part of the 1 in 100 campaign - Choice through Knowledge

For more information, please contact our Events Officer, Will Hoyles, on 020 7227 4412 or whoyles@smf.co.uk

Cabinet Lecture Series: Jacqui Smith

26rd June 2008
Location TBC

Event Speakers; Rt Hon. Jacqui Smith MP

Event Chair; Ann Rossiter. Director, SMF

The SMF will host the Home Secretary, the Rt Hon. Jacqui Smith MP. Part of our Cabinet Lecture Series.

To register early for this event, please contact out Events Manager Will Hoyles on 020 7227 4412 or whoyles@smf.co.uk

The Next Steps in the Prevention of Cardiovasular Disease

Wednesday 11th June, 10am - 12.30pm
Social Market Foundation, 11 Tufton Street, London SW1P 3QB

Event Speakers; Professor Roger Boyle CBE, National Director for Heart Disease and Stroke at the Department of Health
Prof Gerard Stansby, Professor of Vascular Surgery, School of Surgical & Reproductive Sciences, Newcastle University

Event Chair; Lyndsay Mountford, Head of Health, SMF

This seminar will discuss the next steps in the identification and prevention and treatment of Cardiovascular disease, in the light of the imminent introduction of a national screening programme.

On January 7 2008, the Prime Minister announced that a screening programme for heart disease, stroke and diabetes would be introduced in England and Wales. However, the details of this programme have yet to be confirmed. It has been argued that if the forthcoming programme is to have a real impact, then it must adopt differentiated criteria for risk identification, in line with best practice identified by professional groups, focusing, for example, on those highest risk groups in the over 40s population. A further issue is that screening can only save lives if there is properly funded follow-up treatment and supervision. 

In the light of these issues, now is a timely opportunity to bring together a group of senior civil servants, influential academics, patient groups, medical professionals from the field and others with an expert knowledge to discuss the way forward.

 The event is being held with the kind support of of Bristol-Myers Squibb and Sanofi-Aventis