The Getting It Right First Time (GIRFT) programme has recruited a second leading clinician for its mental health workstream.
Dr Guy Northover joins clinical lead Dr Sridevi Kalidindi in the national review of mental health. Dr Northover will focus on Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS), while Dr Kalidindi leads on Mental Health Rehabilitation.
Mental health is one of more than 35 surgical and medical workstreams under review by GIRFT. Recruitment is ongoing for a third clinical lead, who will focus on Acute Mental Health.
Professor Tim Briggs, Chair of GIRFT and National Director of Clinical Quality and Efficiency at NHS Improvement, said: “I am delighted to welcome Dr Guy Northover, who will be utilising his experience, expertise and knowledge to make our mental health speciality more impactful. This is part of the GIRFT programme’s quest to help support the sector by adding value, as well as promoting and implementing our key recommendations to support better outcomes for patients, trusts and the NHS.”
The appointment has been endorsed by the Royal College of Psychiatrists, giving support and leverage to the role as GIRFT continues on its journey of trust visits and examining trust data to look at variations, before working with clinical teams and managers to explore the challenges they face and what needs to be done to address them.
Professor Wendy Burn, President of the Royal College of Psychiatrists, said: “The Royal College of Psychiatrists warmly welcomes the appointment of Dr Guy Northover to the GIRFT mental health workstream team. It is of paramount importance to ‘get it right first time’ and ensure those experiencing mental ill health are seen quickly and receive the right treatment the first time they seek medical help.
“Dr Northover and the workstream team will work to reduce regional variations in service provision and the inappropriate use of out-of-area placements, where some patients have had to travel over 300 miles to receive the treatment they need. We look forward to working with Guy and everyone at the GIRFT team to help ensure services ‘get it right first time’ for all patients, regardless of where they live.”
Dr Guy Northover is a Consultant Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist who has been working in Berkshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust for the past eight years. He has extensive experience in CAMHS urgent care services, clinical governance, health informatics and quality improvement.
Dr Northover said: “Given the national pressures on child and adolescent psychiatric care it is essential that the crisis and inpatient services are providing the best possible outcomes for children and young people. I am thrilled to be part of the GIRFT team and I am looking forward to learning from the services, sharing best practice and reducing unwarranted variation – all of which are at the heart of the programme.”
A full list of all GIRFT clinical leads and their biographies can be found on the website: www.gettingitrightfirsttime.co.uk
