SCI PATHWAY AND TRANSFORMATION RECOMMENDATIONS FOR ADULTS WITH SCI who have PSYCHOLOGICAL and MENTAL HEALTH NEEDS

This document provides information on current service and delivery models for psychological and psychiatric care for people with spinal cord injury (PwSCI) in the eight spinal cord injury centres (SCIC) in NHS England. It draws on the Spinal Injury Psychologists Advisory Group’s analysis of worldwide best practice and the associated evidence base. Four proposals are made: a complexity and matched care intervention pathway, an associated MDT education training curriculum, a pathway to ensure parity of admission for people with complex mental health, and recommendations for psychological health assessment and outcome measures. There are nineteen linked recommendations to ensure unity of service model across the SCICs and parity of provision and access. The recommendations are across the pathway from first episode of care after sustaining an injury, transition into the community, follow up, and secondary SCIC care.