Monday 22nd January 2007

Hi, things are going kind of ok with Forum stuff and very well with personal stuff.
In terms of the Forum, Professor Louis Appleby's office has been less than efficient in organising a date. They postponed our AGM date, the one they gave us because he had booked holiday!!! No wonder the Government is such a mess, when they can't even co-ordinate a National Directors holiday. Other-wise things are going ok. The membership is growing, going out and trying to meet people and also going to the mental health teams is proving to be successful. I am really aiming for as many people on ICPA in Bournemouth to be members, currently just over 1000. We have a growing number of professional joining including a fireman! The magazine is continuing to be a success, and we have been asked by the OT department of St Ann's to be involved in helping service users have an In-house magazine. This means that service users in hospital can get involved with DTP, design, printing, writing articles or experiences, taking digital photos and publishing them. The Forum can oversee and put their name to it, which allows service users to have their say without any problems Trust wise. This came out of the last Acute Care Forum meeting in which the Head of OT showed those present something a service user had done. The Chair was very pleased for it to happen but there were concerns raised about the wording and content. It was suggested that if the Forum published it, it would remain a service user voice and there would be no comeback on the Trust from the NHS.
I continue to campaign about the Mental Health Bill amendments, and went to the mass lobby of parliment in November. My local MP, Tobias Elwood has been very receptive to mental health issues. I will continue to campaign for better mental health services in the future, both locally and nationally.

New Blog for the Forum

We are moving into a new era - the Bournemouth Mental Health Forum has it's AGM in February 2007. We have coming down; Professor Louis Appleby, the National Director of Mental Health and we are in the process of trying to get a Health minister down as well. It will be a brilliant chance for service users to talk to some of the people who make the real decisions.
I have been very busy, I was asked to speak at a fringe event at the Conservative party Conference that was here in Bournemouth a few weeks ago. It was a good chance to speak out for mental health service users, the theme for the event was "Will there ever be real choice in mental health?" MIND had organised it and it was a great success.
The Forum is also involved with Disability Equality Scheme development for the Bournemouth Borough Council and Dorset Healthcare NHS Trust. If you wish to make comments on either of these contact us on 07726 303401 or bmh.forum@ntlworld.com
We continue to be involved with Social Inclusion, Acute Care Forum, Joint Management Board, Bournemouth Local Implementation Team and others.

Bournemouth Mental Health Forum: What are your views on the Amendments to the Mental Health Bill?

Bournemouth Mental Health Forum: What are your views on the Amendments to the Mental Health Bill?

http://www.rethink.org/how_we_can_help/campaigning_for_change/mental_health_bill/index.html

http://www.mentalhealthalliance.org.uk/mentalhealthbill/index.html

Hi this is my first blog post. I am the chair of Bournemouth Mental Health Forum, this is a service user led forum. Our aim is to combat discrimination, stigma and prejudice about mental illness, and influence statutory and voluntary services to provide proper care for service users. We are currently involved with the consultation regarding TORCH, a recovery service in Bournemouth. This is of ongoing concern amongst members and users of TORCH. We are actively involved and committed in making sure service users have a say in the development of their service and receive good care the way they want it. Two of our members, myself and the secretary are members of the Patient and Public Involvement Forum connected to Dorset Healthcare NHS Trust. As a Forum our members sit on various committees and attend various groups. These included:- Local Implementation Team, Service Users and Carer Council, Social Inclusion Steering Group, Acute Care Forum. We are an independent group but do have links with Rethink and Mind, with many of our members belonging to these national organisations. This allows us to keep up-to-date with national issues.