Stockport’s dementia and mental health care has been rated as “outstanding” and “good” in the latest round of clinical assessments by NHS England.
It is a substantial improvement in the borough’s mental health care – scoring a rating of “good” following excellent progress made in priority areas.
That’s testament to the huge strides that have been made in key areas like recovery rates for people accessing psychological therapies and early intervention in psychosis.
Nationally the target for the number of people with psychosis starting treatment within two weeks is just 50% but in Stockport the rate is 69%.
The recovery rate for those accessing psychological therapies is also 5% above the national ambition set by NHS England.
Since 2017 NHS Stockport CCG has invested over £4.5 million in mental health services, which has contributed to the improved ratings.
In previous assessments, Stockport’s mental health care was graded as “requiring improvement”. The assessment is made on a set of clinical indicators by an independent panel.
The assessment also shows that Stockport’s “outstanding” performance in dementia care has been maintained with an increase in the number of people given a timely diagnosis and the quality of the post diagnostic support offered.
The national target for a dementia diagnosis is 66.7% with Stockport achieving a significantly higher level of 71.5%.
GP practices have also sustained Stockport’s premier status in the number of patients with dementia whose care plans have been reviewed in the preceding year.
Every year NHS England carries out an assessment on how each Clinical Commissioning Group performs in certain key clinical areas and rates them as Outstanding, Good, Requires Improvement or Inadequate.
The assessment of NHS Stockport CCG’s performance identified two areas – learning disabilities and diabetes care – that “require improvement”. The majority of CCGs across the country were rated at the same level as Stockport so this is a national challenge.
Locally plans are in place to ensure that the necessary progress is made in these two areas.
GP Clinical Chair of NHS Stockport CCG and local GP, Dr Cath Briggs, said “We’re delighted that the hard work that has been put in to improve the care we offer our patients is paying dividends.
“I’m proud to say that the care we offer people with dementia really is outstanding and that is the level we are aiming to achieve for all of our patients regardless of what their health issue is.
“We believe we are making progress in tackling the areas that require improvement and this hard work will continue so we can reach the goals we need to.”