Dual Diagnosis: Raising Concerns Related to Mental Health and Substance Misuse
Download (PDF 1.7 MB)Summary of report content
Healthwatch Hertfordshire worked with service users, carers, representatives from voluntary organisations, and commissioning bodies to identify the main challenges for patients using services with a dual diagnosis, and to raise these issues with the service providers to negotiate change, and to improve the Dual Diagnosis Protocol. They spoke to 31 people.
Key findings
- People were ‘falling between’ mental health and drug and alcohol services
- Exclusions from mental health services due to substance misuse
- Treatment people received didn't follow NICE guidance
- there is a lack of therapies available for people who may be unable to engage in treatment due to high levels of anxiety
- There were concerns that people were being discharged inappropriately, prematurely, or without support from both drug and alcohol, and mental health services.
- People were concerned that intervention from recovery workers did not take place early enough.
- Concerns were raised regarding an over reliance on carers to provide support to service users.