About us
primhe believes that all Primary Care Professionals (PCPs) need essential core skills to deal with people in distress, with, or without, a diagnosis of a mental illness. People with "mental health problems" account for nearly 30% of primary care workload and 90% of such people are "dealt with" in primary care settings. It is also hard to imagine many consultations with a conscious patient where the brain-mind is not present, so primhe believes that PCPs must be adequately trained and supported to address this issue. primhe was actively involved in submitting evidence to the Quality and Outcomes Framework (QoF) Review and will continue to do so, as it works to lever the whole person (and not merely their constituent parts) and their condition(s) back into general practice consultations. People present with issues and needs and in various predicaments before they acquire a diagnosis (which can itself be an inappropriate response). primhe therefore believes that excellent primary care is not merely treating to targets; it is about whole-person predicamental health care.
primhe works to help people "Dump Descartes" and his time-expired and non evidence-based brain/mind-body and physical-mental dualistic paradigms.
primhe has:
- Been involved in the production of the report "Running on Empty" Download Report PDF.
- Fourteen multi-disciplinary healthcare professionals, six charities and professional organisations were involved altogether in this collaborative effort. The Report reveals that despite being a government and health service priority, people with severe mental illness (SMI) are still receiving a sub-standard level of physical care, compared to the general population. The report argues that this is a contributing factor towards a three times higher rate of premature death, and reduced life expectancy of up to 15 years amongst those affected by SMI.
- Been an Affiliate of the National Social Inclusion Programme. The Affiliate's Network comprises over 50 organisations with an interest in the programme and who have committed the equivalent of approximately ten 'person days' per week of additional skilled resource from a range of interests and perspectives. You can find out more about this programme on www.socialinclusion.org.uk
- Worked closely with the Wales Mental Health in Primary Care Network (WAMHiPC)
- Been represented on the National Mental Health Taskforce by its CEO who is now a member of the National Mental Health Leadership Network and also serves on the DH Advisory Board on the mental health needs of doctors, under Prof. Louis Appleby.
- Together with MIPCA (Migraine in Primary Care Advisors), founded the Primary Care Neurology Society (P-CNS) and is a member of the Alliance of Primary Care Societies.
- Raised initial 3-year DH funding and, together with the Doctors Support Network, managed and operated the Doctors Support Line, the first and only confidential and anonymous UK telephone helpline for doctors in distress.
- Been a founder member of the European Depression Association and an Affiliate of the International Society of Affective Disorders (ISAD).
- primhe has recently endorsed a new website launched at the Department of Health Choice Conference in London on June 27 - 'Choice: Promoting Shared Decision Making'