INFORMED CHOICES
Underlining the pressing need for standard testing
A webinar held in mid-April focused on the importance of the DiMHN and BRE’s Informed Choices testing standard as a means of evaluating the effectiveness of a range of products used in mental healthcare settings, and highlighted some of the considerable potential benefits for users. The Network reports.
The field of mental healthcare demands a unique attention to detail, particularly when it comes to the safety and wellbeing of patients. In recognition of this, the Informed Choices testing standard – jointly developed by the Design in Mental Health Network and centre of building science, BRE, and launched in May 2021, has emerged as a pivotal framework for assessing the efficacy of products used in mental health environments. A recent webinar convened a diverse panel of speakers to delve into the significance of this standard, and its implications for stakeholders across the healthcare spectrum. Through a series of thought- provoking questions and insightful responses, the webinar provided a platform for examining the challenges, motivations, and hopes, surrounding standardised testing in mental health settings. The speakers included:
l Hannah Chamberlain, CEO, Design in Mental Health Network.
l Alison Moore, Senior Health and Safety advisor, NHS Highlands.
l Simon Adamson, director of Estates, Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Foundation Trust.
l Susan Grant, Principal Architect, NHS National Services Scotland.
l Stephen Hatcher, Technical manager, P+HS Architects.
l Ben Lillywhite, Senior Architect, P+HS Architects.
l Sean Taylor, Consultant, BRE. l Laura Critien, Certification Team manager, BRE.
l Kevin Gorman, Owner, Britplas. l Philip Ross, Co-founder, Safehinge Primera.
The DiMHN and BRE’s Informed Choices testing scheme and standard were launched in mid-2021. Through the diverse perspectives
offered by each speaker, the webinar underscored the pressing need for standardised testing in mental health environments, and illuminated the potential benefits that the Informed Choices testing standard could bring to stakeholders across the healthcare landscape. The webinar began with Hannah Chamberlain’s introduction, emphasising the importance of the Informed Choices testing standard in mental health environments. She said: “The testing standard was developed by manufacturers wanting, rightly, to put their marketing claims to the test, and to do right by the people we seek to provide services for. It is easy to distance ourselves from this, or be triggered by it, because it is such a difficult topic.”
The testing standard was developed by manufacturers wanting, rightly, to put their marketing claims to the test, and to do right by the people we seek to provide services for. It is easy to distance ourselves from this, or be triggered by it, because it is such a difficult topic
Hannah Chamberlain, CEO, Design in Mental Health Network 24
Reflecting on past experiences Alison Moore, from NHS Highlands, shared her support for the standard, reflecting on past experiences where labelled ‘anti-ligature’ products didn’t meet safety expectations. She said: “We want products that are suitable, products that will give us piece of mind – basically which will do what they say on the tin. When looking to reduce harm from suicide and ligatures the ‘environment’ is one of the risk principles that has to be managed when promoting a safe environment for the patient group.” Simon Adamson discussed the challenges in decision-making, and the need for standardised testing. He said: “So, where the standard really has strength is that we can go to clinicians and say what standard we need for the room. We can say to them: ‘This is the standard you need to be adopting for this room, and your fixtures and fittings need to be according to the matrix.’ We can then go to market and say that we’re looking for this type of fitting.
Susan Grant focused on the importance
of establishing best practices and consistency in product testing. She said: “We should encourage agreement of national NHS standards in ligature reduced
MAY 2024 | THE NETWORK
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