Today, on Thursday 12th August, we’re pleased to announce the formal establishment of the Royal College Mental Health Expert Advisory Group.
The group brings together partners from across health and social care services and will act as a source of impartial, evidenced-based expert advice for Welsh Government, NHS Wales and other stakeholders.
The group also aims to ensure a sharper focus and understanding on the current and necessary support for the people we collectively represent in social care and in primary, community, and secondary care mental health services.
This group will complement the work of the Academy of Medical Royal Colleges and other forums.
The advisory group has established common work areas of Covid Recovery (including workforce wellbeing), the Mental Health Workforce Plan, and Community Mental Health Services as initial priorities. However, this is not exhaustive, and the advisory group will be keen to develop and receive further areas of interest.
The full membership is currently made up of:
- Royal College of Psychiatrists Wales
- Royal College of Nursing Wales
- Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists
- Royal College of Occupational Therapists
- Royal College of General Practitioners Wales
- Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health
- Royal College of Physicians
- The Royal Pharmaceutical Society
- Chartered Society of Physiotherapy
with a couple of further Colleges soon to finalise membership
RCOT warmly welcomes the formation of RCMHEA and are looking forward to working with our profession colleagues in providing impartial evidence based advices to key stakeholders. Our members work in all areas of mental health practice and are eager to help shape services that meets the needs of citizens 21st century Wales.
Dai Davies, Royal College of Occupational Therapists
The pandemic has thrown the NHS workforce crisis into sharp relief. Long hours, rota gaps, unprecedented stress: many doctors have been living on the edge for more than a year now. The mental health and wellbeing of our healthcare workers must be a genuine priority for the NHS from now on, and we’re delighted to be working with this new Expert Advisory Group to make the case for change.
Dr Olwen Williams OBE, Royal College of Physicians
We are pleased to be a part of the Royal College Mental Health Expert Advisory Group. This multi-professional group provides a great opportunity to influence positive change in the design and delivery of mental health services in Wales at this very important time. We look forward to working closely with the group, representing the pharmacy profession and contributing evidence and examples of good practice to drive forward service innovation so the Welsh population can be assured of access to appropriate care, at the right time and in the right place.
Elen Jones, The Royal Pharmaceutical Society
I welcome the opportunity to collaborate with individuals with different experiences and perspectives to take forward constructive and evidence informed discussion about Mental health and well being in Wales.
Dr Catherine Norton, Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health
RCGP warmly welcome the launch of this group which is bringing together mental health and wellbeing experts to create a strong voice for the professions and for patients using mental health services in Wales
Prof Peter Saul, Royal College of General Practitioners Cymru Wales
The Royal College of Nursing Wales welcomes the opportunity to be a member of the Royal College Mental Health Expert Advisory Group (RCMHEAG). Over the last few years mental health and wellbeing has risen up the agenda but severe and enduring mental illness has not. Those experiencing severe to severe and enduring mental illness are too often forgotten about and mental health inpatient services have not received the investment they need. The mental health workforce is also under an immense amount of pressure due to a chronic workforce shortage. It is the ambition of the Royal College of Nursing that the RCMHEAG will influence the Welsh Government and NHS Wales to ensure there is urgent investment to severe and enduring mental health services and support the mental health workforce to grow.
In addition, after the year we have just experienced the workforce’s mental health and wellbeing must be a priority for NHS health boards, trusts and the Welsh Government. The health and social care workforce are exhausted, burnt out and thinking of leaving. The Royal College of Nursing looks forward to working as a member of the RCMHEAG to provide expert knowledge to the Welsh Government, NHS Wales and stakeholders to ensure the health and wellbeing of the workforce is considered in any COVID-19 recovery plan.
Helen Whyley, Royal College of Nursing Wales
If you have any questions or would like to get in touch, please contact Liz Williams (Liz.Williams@rcpsych.ac.uk).