Over 50% of patients happy with mental health services

MANY PEOPLE who use mental health services say they are happy with the quality of treatment they receive, despite the negative perception of the psychiatric system.

A survey of 536 service users found that just over half reported being happy with their service, while 39 per cent said they were not. Another 9 per cent said they were not sure.

The report, undertaken by the National Service Users' Executive, was published yesterday on the fourth anniversary of the publication of A Vision for Change, the Government's blueprint to modernise the mental health service.

In addition, most service users say they felt listened to (58 per cent) and were treated with dignity and respect at all times (57 per cent). Many were optimistic for the future. Some 72 per cent said they felt hopeful the service would improve. It was not all positive, however. A total of 43 per cent of service users said they felt services had not improved over the past two years.

When asked if their views and wishes were given priority, opinion was split. Forty three per cent said they were, while 37 per cent said they were not.

The survey also broke down the results to local level, which revealed major variations between the perceived standards of services. In some areas, satisfaction ratings with services were as high as 84 per cent. Others had “unacceptably low” levels of satisfaction, but the survey report does not disclose what these were.

Service users were also asked for their three main priorities for change. Issues such as less medication, being listened to and seen by the same doctors (all 12 per cent), were among the most popular issues for change.

John Redican, a national executive officer with the service users' group, said the results would be used to set an agenda for positive change. "We see this as an opportunity to progress those parts of A Vision for Changethat are most important to our membership and which can be achieved despite the current economic situation," he said.