ACUTE INPATIENT SETTINGS
Howard and Gamble (2011) developed a checklist of 44
potential physical health activities that might be undertaken
by MHN during an acute admission to hospital. A
survey of 37 MHN showed that 94% of the nurses thought
that addressing the physical health needs of people with
SMI was important or very important, and they felt con-
fident in their ability to deliver most of the interventions.
However, a review of patients’ nursing records showed
that over half contained no record of 39 out of Howard
and Gamble’s 44 physical health activities. Unless nurses
were simply failing to fully document their work, this
would seem to suggest that the physical health care of
patients was not being prioritized.
Acute inpatient admissions represent an excellent
opportunity to review the physical health of people with
SMI, as well as to provide health education advice about
a range of issues. We recommend that unless other suitable
systems are in place to ensure best practice, acute
mental health units should implement the checklist
developed by Howard and Gamble (2011). If this were
implemented and used to assess the needs of all people
with SMI admitted to inpatient care, it would ensure
that all important health screening tests were undertaken,
as well as relevant health education advice being
given.