Category: Patient Information

Resource of the Month

ORCHA APP Library

ORCHA (the Organisation for the Review of Care and Health Applications) is an online app library, giving you the opportunity to download, share and recommend health and care related apps.

With thousands of health and care apps available on the market, it can be hard to decide which apps are reliable and trustworthy.

  • ORCHA only include apps which have been reviewed against best practice criteria.
  • This allows you to map apps for either your personal or professional needs.
  • Simply search for the app you are looking for or browse the contents.
  • Save the apps to your favourites or recommend to others (including patients via a text/email or APP code).
  • Access the Digitial Health Academy for bite size training videos to gain new skills and CPD points.

It’s easy to sign up. Visit: https://lscft.orcha.co.uk. In the top right corner – click ‘Sign up’ and enter your details. Upgrade your account with the code: LSCFT01 to access the Digital Health Academy.

Please feel free to download our resource of the month poster and share with your team or within your department.

Royal College of Psychiatrist

Eliminating inappropriate out of area placements in mental health

Source: Royal College of Psychiatrist

The government’s deadline to eliminate inappropriate out of area placements for adult acute patients by the end of March 2021 has now been missed by a full year. Sometimes hundreds of miles away from home, patients are unable to access their usual support networks while at their most vulnerable, often finding their care seriously disrupted, with long-term implications for their recovery. The NHS spent £102 million on inappropriate out of area placements in the 12 months up to and including March 2022 – the equivalent to the cost of the annual salary of more than 900 consultant psychiatrists. This briefing sets out the urgent action the NHS should take to ensure all patients get the care they need from properly staffed, specialist services in their local area.  

Good communication with patients

Third phase of the NHS response to COVID-19 letter

Source: The King’s Fund; Health Management and Policy Alert

The challenge Covid-19 poses means that clear, concise and timely communication with patients is more critical than ever. This guidance, and accompanying supporting documents, present providers with core principles that will help deliver personalised, patient-centred communications to patients who are waiting for care.

For more information and resources click here.