Although the issue of confidentiality and information sharing hasn't made it onto our Mental Health Wish List it has cropped up several times as a discussion point over the past few months. Rethink recently sent through some guidance on information sharing from the Department of Health. The report, 'Information Sharing and Mental Health', touches on some of the issues that we've discussed - that service users have a right to access information that impacts on them and that carers often feel that information is withheld from them unnecessarily. The guide is intended mostly for health professionals and is primarily focussed on sharing of information between statutory and non-statutory organisations. So, it doesn't directly address the issues we've been discussing as a group but does give a useful insight into the difficulties that professionals face. However, the guide does reference a report by Rethink for the Department of Health, published in 2004 , 'Positive and Inclusive: Effective ways for professionals to include carers in information sharing' which does look exclusively at information sharing with carers. It's a pretty long report (over 200 pages) but it is summarised - p.9 lists the main results and p.11 the main recommendations.
Our next meeting will be on Wednesday 11th March starting at 6pm for tea, coffee and biccies, and ending at 8pm. Lauren Bate, our Rethink link, will be coming along to our group this Wednesday. We want you to tell us what you get out of the group and what would you like to see more of. If you are travelling by public transport, Manchester Carers Centre is directly across the road from the New Islington Metrolink stop (Droylsden Line). It’s one tram stop from Piccadilly train station. Some of us meet at Piccadilly station by the taxi rank at 5.30 and head up together. Text Lindsey on 07757 082 976 so we know to wait for you. If you are travelling by car, free parking is available on Pollard Street from 6pm.
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