The aim of the visit was to analyse the ways the Trust supports children with complex mental health needs, with a view to helping those impacted by the war in Ukraine.
This followed on from a previous Trust visit from the First Lady of Ukraine, Olena Zelenska, who spent time at the Coborn Centre for Adolescent Mental Health in Newham University Hospital earlier this year.
The Plaistow-based service and their visitors discussed healthcare issues including responsibilities and structure.
The discussion also provided an opportunity for colleagues to detail the tiered approach to mental health, based on the complexity of conditions and the risk posed by individuals.
Other discussion points included:
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Interventions offered and the referral process into CAMHS.
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Multi-agency collaboration with voluntary sector organisations.
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Work with Newham Council to review referrals and identify a shared care plan.
After the visit to Newham, a meeting took place at the East London NHS Foundation Trust (ELFT)’s HQ in Aldgate with the executive team, providing a fuller picture of mental health support in London and Bedfordshire.
The Ukrainian delegation will now review learnings from Newham and the wider UK healthcare system and discuss areas that could be taken forward at home.
Consultant Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist, Dennis Ougrin, said: “It was a privilege to host Ukrainian health colleagues at Newham CAMHS and our Trust HQ. We hope they found the visit useful, and wish them well in providing high quality mental health support for Ukrainian citizens.”
Head of the Coordination Center for Mental Health of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine, Oksana Zbitneva, added: “Colleagues from Newham CAMHS and the East London Foundation Trust have given us a lot to think about. I would like to thank them for their generous words and support, as we navigate our own mental health journeys in Ukraine.”
Visitors included Oleg Shults, who is a Mental Health Consultant at the World Health Organization and Iryna Mykychak, Director of Project Development at the Coordination Center for Mental Health. They were joined by Fiona Stockley and Nicholas Isaacs, the General Manager and Lead Consultant at Newham CAMHS.
