Social networking sites could help mental health patients

Social networking sites including Twitter and Facebook could be used by clinical staff to support mental health patients.

The Berkshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, which provides services to people with mental health problems, is currently testing out a range of ideas aimed at reducing costs and improving its quality.

Plans for a new £28m mental hospital in Upton Park, in Slough, have been put on hold as trust bosses also look into developing a centre of excellence at Prospect Park Hospital in Reading, and into making it the in-patient centre for Berkshire.

Speaking at a media briefing on Friday, (November 13) chief executive Philippa Slinger, said they expect the Government to slash their budget by about £10-12 million, by 2013/14.

Among the 'radical' proposals as part of the trust's Next Generation Care programme is to use web-based technology to enable clinical staff to talk to mental health patients interactively, through Facebook, Twitter and email.

The trust's chief executive added no decision will be made on the proposals until the middle or end of January, but they 'had to make changes'.

For details visit www.berkshirehealthcare.nhs.uk

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