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Alison Halliwell is a mental health practitioner leading a team in general practice in Fleetwood. The service Alison leads began in 2004 when 42% of patients were presenting to GPs with a mental health component to their illness. Fourteen years on and now only 8% of her GPs’ time is spent dealing with mental health issues. The service has won six national awards and Alison explains how it began, how it developed, how it runs and offers advice to other practices thinking of doing the same.

Show Notes

Alison describes the practices she supports (1mins 05secs)

Bringing mental health services and general practice together (1min 34secs)

The role originates as a job share (2mins 18secs)

Alison explains why she took the role (2mins 38secs)

The role evolves into Alison’s vision (3mins 07secs)

The team grows and allows speedy access (3mins 49secs)

Self-referrals (5mins 49secs)

Savings and investment in the service (6mins 14secs)

One team (6mins 51secs)

Ensuring consistency (7mins 22secs)

Reduction of demand on GPs (7mins 53secs)

The response from GPs (8mins 53secs)

Tools and strategies for patients (9mins 29secs)

Overcoming the obstacles (10mins 23secs)

The relationship with secondary care (11mins 20secs)

Recruiting mental health practitioners (12mins 01secs)

The level to recruit at (13mins 07secs)

Alison’s advice to others (13mins 25secs)

Supporting integration (14mins 39secs)

The ideal size of practice (15mins 18secs)

Varied specialisms (15mins 47secs)

Plans for the future (16mins 39secs)

Contacting Alison (17mins 37secs)

Alison’s email is Alison.halliwell@nhs.net