Thalamos Electronic Mental Health Act Solution

In June 2022, ELFT switched to the electronic Mental Health Act solution, Thalamos, to complete several types of statutory MHA forms digitally. As you know, following the successful pilot run in C&H in 2021, ELFT started rolling out Thalamos to the rest of the Trust. Since June 2022:

Our Approved Clinicians have been completing, signing and serving T2s and H5s on Thalamos
Our inpatient doctors have been completing, signing and serving H1s on Thalamos
Our Receiving Officers (Charge Nurses on our Mental Health wards) have been able to receive and accept H1s and H5s using Thalamos too.

Since 6th February this year AMHP's have been able to complete Part 2 on CTO1s and CTO7s on Thalamos from 06/02.

What this means for you:

number of devices with pink mental health act forms

AMHPs have been able to complete Part 2 on CTO1s and CTO7s on Thalamos since 06/02 and from 20/02 they will also be able to complete, sign and serve S2/3 applications on Thalamos.

Inpatient Responsible Clinicians will be able to complete, sign and serve CTO1s on Thalamos from 20/02. They will also be able to share S2/3 medical recommendations with AMHPs on Thalamos from 20/02.

Community Responsible Clinicians have been able to complete, sign and serve CTO7s on Thalamos from 06/02. They will also be able to share S2/3 medical recommendations with AMHPs on Thalamos from 20/02.

External Section 12 Approved Doctors will be able to complete and share S2/3 medical recommendations with AMHPs on Thalamos from 20/02.

Receiving Officers (Charge Nurses on Mental Health Wards) have been able to receive and accept CTO7s from 06/02. From 20/02 receiving officers will also be able to receive and accept S2/3 applications on Thalamos. When accepting S2/3 applications this will mean the H3 can also be completed on Thalamos.

Thalamos Training

Training has been available for all staff groups listed above since 3rd January 2023.

The training is short (30 min) and simple. Please click on the relevant training link below, depending on your role, to book a place at a convenient time:

Mental health ward staff (inpatient nurses and doctors), Community Responsible Clinicians (dealing with patients on CTOs) and AMHPs are required to complete training prior to going live unless they have already received Thalamos training as part of Phase 1 or 2. Training includes setup of user credentials and must be completed before using Thalamos. External S12 Doctors are also kindly asked to complete training.

Additional Resources and Support:

ELFT Nurses
Please click below to view a downloadable Thalamos Crib Sheet and FAQs.

Doctors, S12 Doctors, ELFT Nurses and AMHPs
Please click below to view a downloadable Thalamos FAQs.

Further Resources:
To access ‘how to’ guides, videos and FAQs to assist you in using Thalamos, please go to: thalamos.co.uk/help. For more information about the Thalamos platform for completing and managing Mental Health Act forms digitally, please visit thalamos.co.uk.

Metropolitan Police Thalamos 434 Form: Receiving patients on Section 136

The Metropolitan Police, in partnership with NHSE, has launched a digital version of the form 434 for section 136. The aim of the digital 434 form is to make the process simpler and swifter for both the police and ED/ HBPoS staff.

What will happen to paper forms?

Where possible, Thalamos should be used to complete MHA forms digitally in the first instance. For users not yet trained on Thalamos and as additional digital MHA forms are added to Thalamos, paper MHA forms will remain available and can be used if it is considered to be in the best interests of the patient. A link to printable MHA forms can be found below.

Transfer under Section 19

Renewal of Detention

Record of Reception England

Record of Reception in England - M1 Reception in England

Responsible clinician barring discharge by nearest relative

Responsible Clinician Barring Discharge By Nearest Relative - M2 RC Barring

Treatment Certificates under Part IV

Community Treatment Orders

Admission Forms

Benefits of switching to digital:

Faster processing of MHA forms means that service users in crisis receive care sooner.
The Thalamos user interface will lead to a significant reduction in errors arising from misread handwriting and prevents common mistakes when filling out MHA forms.
The need to hand-deliver and/or scan paper forms will be removed, improving efficiency to free up our clinicians to provide direct care for service users whilst also saving time and money.
Because all MHA forms within Thalamos are managed securely via encrypted email and uploaded against the patient record in RiO, there will be no more damaged or misplaced forms, helping to protect patient confidentiality and reducing the risk of unlawful detention.
Improved legal compliance will help to ensure a safer MHA experience for patients and the staff supporting them.

Digital Mental Health Act

Why digitise?

Thalamos Electronic Mental Health Act Solution