Effects of the first COVID-19 lockdown on quality and safety in mental healthcare transitions in England
Background The COVID-19 pandemic forced the rapid implementation of changes to practice in mental health services, in particular transitions of care. Care transitions pose a particular threat to patient safety. Aims This study aimed to understand the perspectives of different stakeholders about the...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Cambridge University Press
2021-09-01
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| Series: | BJPsych Open |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S2056472421009960/type/journal_article |
| _version_ | 1811156918231629824 |
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| author | Natasha Tyler Gavin Daker-White Andrew Grundy Leah Quinlivan Chris Armitage Stephen Campbell Maria Panagioti |
| author_facet | Natasha Tyler Gavin Daker-White Andrew Grundy Leah Quinlivan Chris Armitage Stephen Campbell Maria Panagioti |
| author_sort | Natasha Tyler |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background
The COVID-19 pandemic forced the rapid implementation of changes to practice in mental health services, in particular transitions of care. Care transitions pose a particular threat to patient safety.
Aims
This study aimed to understand the perspectives of different stakeholders about the impact of temporary changes in practice and policy of mental health transitions as a result of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) on perceived healthcare quality and safety.
Method
Thirty-four participants were interviewed about quality and safety in mental health transitions during May and June 2020 (the end of the first UK national lockdown). Semi-structured remote interviews were conducted to generate in-depth information pertaining to various stakeholders (patients, carers, healthcare professionals and key informants). Results were analysed thematically.
Results
The qualitative data highlighted six overarching themes in relation to practice changes: (a) technology-enabled communication; (b) discharge planning and readiness; (c) community support and follow-up; (d) admissions; (e) adapting to new policy and guidelines; (f) health worker safety and well-being. The COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated some quality and safety concerns such as tensions between teams, reduced support in the community and increased threshold for admissions. Also, several improvement interventions previously recommended in the literature, were implemented locally.
Discussion
The practice of mental health transitions has transformed during the COVID-19 pandemic, affecting quality and safety. National policies concerning mental health transitions should concentrate on converting the mostly local and temporary positive changes into sustainable service quality improvements and applying systematic corrective policies to prevent exacerbations of previous quality and safety concerns.
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| first_indexed | 2024-04-10T04:59:11Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-6c51bf315ba145f2b74e089110013760 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2056-4724 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-10T04:59:11Z |
| publishDate | 2021-09-01 |
| publisher | Cambridge University Press |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BJPsych Open |
| spelling | doaj.art-6c51bf315ba145f2b74e0891100137602023-03-09T12:29:14ZengCambridge University PressBJPsych Open2056-47242021-09-01710.1192/bjo.2021.996Effects of the first COVID-19 lockdown on quality and safety in mental healthcare transitions in EnglandNatasha Tyler0https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8257-1090Gavin Daker-White1https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3538-8805Andrew Grundy2https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6562-6894Leah Quinlivan3https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3944-3613Chris Armitage4https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2365-1765Stephen Campbell5https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2328-4136Maria Panagioti6https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7153-5745NIHR Greater Manchester Patient Safety Translational Research Centre, University of Manchester, UKNIHR Greater Manchester Patient Safety Translational Research Centre, University of Manchester, UKSchool of Health Science, University of Nottingham, UKNIHR Greater Manchester Patient Safety Translational Research Centre, University of Manchester, UK; and Centre for Mental Health and Safety, University of Manchester, UKNIHR Greater Manchester Patient Safety Translational Research Centre, University of Manchester, UK; Manchester Centre for Health Psychology, University of Manchester, UK; and Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, Manchester University Foundation Trust, UKNIHR Greater Manchester Patient Safety Translational Research Centre, University of Manchester, UKNIHR Greater Manchester Patient Safety Translational Research Centre, University of Manchester, UKBackground The COVID-19 pandemic forced the rapid implementation of changes to practice in mental health services, in particular transitions of care. Care transitions pose a particular threat to patient safety. Aims This study aimed to understand the perspectives of different stakeholders about the impact of temporary changes in practice and policy of mental health transitions as a result of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) on perceived healthcare quality and safety. Method Thirty-four participants were interviewed about quality and safety in mental health transitions during May and June 2020 (the end of the first UK national lockdown). Semi-structured remote interviews were conducted to generate in-depth information pertaining to various stakeholders (patients, carers, healthcare professionals and key informants). Results were analysed thematically. Results The qualitative data highlighted six overarching themes in relation to practice changes: (a) technology-enabled communication; (b) discharge planning and readiness; (c) community support and follow-up; (d) admissions; (e) adapting to new policy and guidelines; (f) health worker safety and well-being. The COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated some quality and safety concerns such as tensions between teams, reduced support in the community and increased threshold for admissions. Also, several improvement interventions previously recommended in the literature, were implemented locally. Discussion The practice of mental health transitions has transformed during the COVID-19 pandemic, affecting quality and safety. National policies concerning mental health transitions should concentrate on converting the mostly local and temporary positive changes into sustainable service quality improvements and applying systematic corrective policies to prevent exacerbations of previous quality and safety concerns. https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S2056472421009960/type/journal_articleInpatient treatmentqualitative researchCOVID-19care transitionsquality and safety |
| spellingShingle | Natasha Tyler Gavin Daker-White Andrew Grundy Leah Quinlivan Chris Armitage Stephen Campbell Maria Panagioti Effects of the first COVID-19 lockdown on quality and safety in mental healthcare transitions in England BJPsych Open Inpatient treatment qualitative research COVID-19 care transitions quality and safety |
| title | Effects of the first COVID-19 lockdown on quality and safety in mental healthcare transitions in England |
| title_full | Effects of the first COVID-19 lockdown on quality and safety in mental healthcare transitions in England |
| title_fullStr | Effects of the first COVID-19 lockdown on quality and safety in mental healthcare transitions in England |
| title_full_unstemmed | Effects of the first COVID-19 lockdown on quality and safety in mental healthcare transitions in England |
| title_short | Effects of the first COVID-19 lockdown on quality and safety in mental healthcare transitions in England |
| title_sort | effects of the first covid 19 lockdown on quality and safety in mental healthcare transitions in england |
| topic | Inpatient treatment qualitative research COVID-19 care transitions quality and safety |
| url | https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S2056472421009960/type/journal_article |
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