A new mental health service: high quality and user-led.

mental health services this is a time of For mental health services this is a time of change. We have seen the publication of change. We have seen the publication of, a blueprint for mental health care throughout England. for mental health care throughout England. By the time this paper appears, the By the time this paper appears, the National Plan will have been published ± National Plan will have been published ± a radical view of the whole National Health a radical view of the whole National Health Service (NHS) based on consultation with Service (NHS) based on consultation with the public and the professions. The the public and the professions. The National Institute for Clinical Excellence National Institute for Clinical Excellence is considering how schizophrenia and is considering how schizophrenia and depression should be treated, and more depression should be treated, and more mental health topics are on its list. The mental health topics are on its list. The Commission for Health Improvement ± an Commission for Health Improvement ± an external inspectorate of clinical governance external inspectorate of clinical governance in local services ± has begun its work. A in local services ± has begun its work. A new Mental Health Act is on the way. new Mental Health Act is on the way. And, against this background, there is my And, against this background, there is my own appointment as National Director for own appointment as National Director for Mental Health, one of threèhealth czars', Mental Health, one of threèhealth czars', to use the ludicrous shorthand that the to use the ludicrous shorthand that the press have planted in the public mind. press have planted in the public mind. All these initiatives are directed at a key All these initiatives are directed at a key target in the modern NHS: quality. It is a target in the modern NHS: quality. It is a word that features in numerous public word that features in numerous public documents on health. It has filtered down documents on health. It has filtered down into many people's job descriptions. There into many people's job descriptions. There is, we often hear, a `quality agenda' as if is, we often hear, a `quality agenda' as if it were a distinct process ± in fact, it runs it were a distinct process ± in fact, it runs through everything. So the question is: through …