Mental health patients promised quicker care as hospital to GP link launches

Patients with mental health issues will receive a quicker service thanks to a pilot scheme directly linking GP surgeries with clinicians at South West London and St George’s Mental Health NHS Trust (SWLSTG). The project, which officially launched last month, is the first time the system, called Kinesis GP, has been trialled for use in mental health cases in London. GPs will be able to ask for advice on aspects of patient care, including referral, while the patient is still in the surgery and receive a reply within 24 hours. Dr Mark Potter, SWLSTG Wandsworth Clinical Director and Clinical Lead for Kinesis