CLAHRC West is working with the Bristol Health Partners Improving Care in Self-Harm Health Integration Team (STITCH HIT) to improve the experience of patients who have self-harmed, with the long term aim of reducing suicides in the city.
STITCH have used patient experience design techniques, working closely with local self-harm groups, to assess existing services, develop new approaches and embed service change to improve the experience for this group of patients. For example, at University Hospitals Bristol NHS Foundation Trust psychiatric liaison services have been extended to cover the most common times these patients are likely to present at A&E. CLAHRC West is undertaking an economic assessment of this service change.
STITCH will also work with CLAHRC West on research on engaging patients meaningfully in self-harm research, focussed on patient-centred outcomes for self-harm care and increasing patient involvement in research. To find out more about STITCH’s work, visit www.bristolhealthpartners.org.uk/stitch
Salena Williams and David Gunnell on STITCH HIT
Salena Williams, Senior Nurse in Liaison Psychiatry at the Bristol Royal Infirmary and David Gunnell, Professor of Epidemiology at University of Bristol and Hon Consultant in Public Health at North Bristol Trust, talk about the work of the Improving Care in Self-Harm Health Integration Team (STITCH HIT).