SMI PHYSICAL HEALTH CHECKS

In 2022, Northamptonshire ICB launched a new, local enhanced service (LES) for those with Severe Mental Illness (SMI). The LES provides enhanced payments to practices for completing annual physical reviews for patients with SMI, which should be a person-centred service that patients with SMI feel comfortable, confident, and able to engage with. The physical health check has been increased from a six elements to twelve elements, with an upper threshold target of 80% completion.

Worth are committed to providing training for clinicians and administrators in general practice to support them to achieve the target of completing an annual physical review for 80% of patients with SMI.

For patients with severe mental illness, evidence shows that life expectancy can be reduced by up to 25 years, with the main cause of death for these patients being cardiovascular disease caused by a combination of smoking, unhealthy diets, lack of exercise, and weight gain.

Unfortunately, some of the antipsychotic medication used to treat SMI may increase the risk of developing CVD. In addition, those at high risk of self-neglect are also exposed to a higher risk of excess mortality.

Because patients with SMI are likely to die younger, Northamptonshire ICB have developed the enhanced, twelve-point health check, to ensure better outcomes through appropriate interventions for patients at risk of harm or self-neglect.