NHS London has an Inequality Lead who raises awareness of the problem of poor physical health and reduced life expectancy of people with severe mental health problems, so to help combat this glaring healthcare inequality I lodged a complaint with NHS London because as far as I am aware the South London and Maudsley NHS MH Trust (SLaM) isn't keeping records of how its using it's gym services to help it's service users combat physical health problems.
The Trust claims to have no records on user usage numbers, induction, throughput or outcomes - and NHS London suggest that insistence on good record keeping to demonstrate most effective and efficient patient focussed use of resources isn't part of its strategic remit.
SLaM claims on its website to be driven by 21st Century Science and the needs of its service users. The Trust is however documenting, advertising and signposting staff usage of its gyms and claims that Health and Safety in workplace regulations compel it to do that and it has obligations to look after its staff.
As far as my experiences as a volunteer are concerned, I have not been aware of service users being made aware of the gyms and even if they stumble across them I do not know of them being offered inductions or encouraged to use the facilities. A search of SLaM's website only turned up one mention of a gym and that was in connection with it being used for Choir practice.
SLaM provides mental health services across a huge swathe of South East London and that's a lot of service users with physical health problems who I feel are being failed by this Trust and NHS London.
"Service users not being given opportunities to improve their physical health"
About: NHS London NHS London South London And Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust / Inpatient mental health care South London And Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust Inpatient mental health care SE5 8AZ
Posted by Andrei (as ),
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Update posted by Andrei (a volunteer/advocate) 11 years ago