In light of the extraordinary challenges faced by NHS workers during the COVID-19 pandemic, the Staff Mental Health Service (SMHS) was established to provide rapid access mental healthcare to staff across five NHS trusts in Cambridgeshire and Peterborough. This project aims to evaluate the service in terms of need, access, and cost-effectiveness.
Background
The Staff Mental Health Service (SMHS) is a bespoke service that was set up to provide mental health support to NHS healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic and is the one of the few services that accommodates people with prolonged and persistent mental health difficulties. The service offers rapid access mental health provision for staff working in five NHS Trusts across Cambridgeshire and Peterborough.
Project Aims
The aim of this study is to find out who needs the Staff Mental Health Service (SMHS), what the most appropriate treatment is depending on individual mental health needs, and whether the service is cost-effective.
Project Activity
- Recruitment of participants using the service, who will be asked to complete questionnaires on first assessment and upon discharge from the service.
- Analysis and comparison with organisational-level data from the NHS CHECK study.
- Model-based cost-effectiveness analysis, comparing the service with usual care and no treatment.
Anticipated or actual outputs
The output from this study will help inform the NHS on how best to safeguard the mental health of its staff, especially in the face of challenging circumstances like a future pandemic.
Papers/resources associated with this project
- Further information about the service: https://www.cpft.nhs.uk/smhs
- Research registry details: https://www.researchregistry.com/browse-the-registry#home/registrationdetails/633d988eb29bf50022acb05f/
Who is involved?
- Principal Investigators
Dr Muzaffer Kaser- Consultant Psychiatrist CPFT Staff Mental Health Service (Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust)
Dr Rory Cameron- Lead health economist (University of East Anglia)
- Additional investigators
Dr Adam Wagner (University of East Anglia)
Prof Peter Jones (Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust)
Dr Cathy Walsh (Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust)
Sulekha Said (Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust)
Krishnan Puri Sudhir (University of East Anglia)
- Participating institutions
Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust (also Research Site)
University of East Anglia
- Corresponding researcher:
Dr Muzaffer Kaser (Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust)
Douglas House
18b Trumpington Road
Cambridge
CB2 8AH
