Analysis of changes in the national mental health nursing workforce in England, 2011-2021

Data regarding changes in characteristics of the MHN workforce is commonly cited in governmental publications, but is rarely analysed in peer reviewed journals, despite ongoing concerns regarding high vacancy rates within mental health services. Aims To characterise changes in the MHN workforce, implementation of new nursing roles/skills and alignment with national policy Method Analysis of nationally published workforce data, peer reviewed publications and governmental policy/planning documents. Results Nurse numbers declined from 2011 to 2017, subsequently returning to near 2011 levels, but remaining below national targets. Nurses in community settings increased to constitute more than half of all nurses, whilst inpatient numbers declined, although more slowly than bed numbers. The ratio between nurses and support workers changed due to more support workers in inpatient settings. New advanced skills and roles for nurses have increased, but are unevenly distributed, constituting a small proportion of the total workforce. Implications for practice This paper provides a case study against which comparisons may be made with the nursing workforce in other countries and specialities. Even clear policy commitment to nursing growth may not deliver planned changes in numbers and introducing new roles may have uneven impact, especially in the absence of a robust evidence base

Youth mental health services

The poster illustrates findings from an evaluation of a youth-specific mental health service that formed part of a broader project on youth mental health

Studies of the Coccoidea. 3. The genera Chentraspis, Clavaspis, Lindingaspis and Morganella in Queensland

The genera Chentraspis, Clavaspis and Morganella are represented in Queensland by the genotype only, while Lindingaspis is represented by three species. Each of these except two species of Lindingaspis is widely distributed. Clavaspis herculeana (Doane and Hadden), M. longispina (Morgan) and L. rossi (Maskell) are recorded from a variety of hosts and are of minor economic importance

Studies of the Coccoidea. 6. New genera and new species of Aspidiotini

New species of Aspidiotini with a constricted thorax and dorsal pygidial chitinization are Mimeraspis cuspilobis, M. rotundus, Myrtophila curvata, M. adnatae, M. suticollis, Dichosoma convexa, Achorophora obliqua, A. divergens, Diaphoraspis orbata, D. incisa, D. compacta, Aspidonymus woodwardi, Acontonidia triangularis, Duplaspidiotus magnus and Pseudotargionia inconspicua. The first seven of the nine genera mentioned are also new

Studies of the Coccoidea. 10. New species of Diaspididae

New species of scale insects from Queensland described in the family Diaspididae are Ancepaspis longicauda, A. magnicauda, A. asperata, A. reticulata, A. rotundicauda, A. striata, Andaspis numerata, Aulacaspis australis, Doriopus bilobus, Phenacaspis difissata, Poliaspis attenuata, and P. elongata. The genus Doriopus is also new

Studies of the Coccoidea. 2. Revision of some of the Australian Aspidiotini described by Maskell

Examination of type specimens of some of the Aspidiotini from Australia described by Maskell and other relevant material has enabled the following conclusions. Aspidiotus acaciae Morgan, Pseudaonidia junctiloba Marlatt and Aspidiotus junctilobius Froggatt are synonyms of Aspidiotus eucalypti Maskell, which is correctly placed in the genus Neomorgania and now becomes the genotype. The variety comatus Maskell of Aspidiotus eucalypti Maskell represents a distinct species, and belongs to the genus Pseudotargionia. Aspidiotus virescens Maskell is a synonym of Diaspis fimbriata Maskell which is now made the genotype of a new genus Megaspidiotus. The characters of Aspidiotus casuarinae Maskell conform with those of the genus Pseudaonidia but as the type appears to be an immature adult further material is needed for examination. These species have been re-described and re-illustrated

The development of nurse prescribing in mental health services: Outcomes from five national surveys 2004–2019

The development of nurse prescribing in mental health services: outcomes from five national surveys 2004-19 ABSTRACT Background: Nurse prescribing is increasing worldwide. Reports describing long term developments after implementation are rare. Aim: To explore data from national surveys of nurse prescribing in England’s National Health Service mental health services Methods: Five surveys were distributed to all mental health organisations between 2004 and 2019 Results: Response rates increased from 54% (n = 45/83) in 2004 to 79% (n = 42/53) in 2019. The estimated proportion of mental health nurses who were prescribers increased to 4.3% by 2019. Distribution between clinical practice areas did not change significantly over time, with largest numbers in community mental health teams. The proportion of nurse prescribers actively prescribing increased from 76.4% in 2014 to 87.8% in 2019. Independent prescribing became the predominant approach, with supplementary prescribing rarely used as the sole model within organisations. The scale of implementation varied Conclusions: Although nurse prescribing in mental health services has grown over time, growth has slowed and is variable at local level. Implications for nursing management: Organisations considering the introduction or growth of nurse prescribing should note the evidenced preference for an independent prescribing model to date and consider how to avoid unwarranted variation in nurse prescriber role distribution