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Improving across the boundaries of mental health and A&E – learning and reflections
Event

Improving across the boundaries of mental health and A&E – learning and reflections

29 April 2026

14:30 - 16:00

Online

  • Leadership

  • Mental health

Register your place

Overview

Hear reflections from our interface improvement programme, including insights on how to make improvement across the interface a success.

Between May 2025 and April 2026, our Interface Improvement Programme has supported teams working across 18 separate locations for acute care to understand what’s needed to improve services at the intersection between mental health and A&E.

Teams have been improving care for patients by developing solutions to local problems, a journey that will be continuing long-term as they finish the programme. Join us to hear reflections from some of our participants on the improvement work their teams have undertaken.

The session will celebrate achievements and feature guest speakers and programme ambassadors sharing advice and information on interface improvement with opportunities to ask questions, form connections and gain valuable insights.

Why this matters

The event is aimed at those wanting to carry out improvement initiatives of their own across the boundaries of mental health and emergency departments – clinicians, facilitators, national improvement leaders or those wanting to influence changes in healthcare – regulators, policy leads and ICBs.

What we'll cover

Full details and the agenda will be published in due course but please do book your place early so you don’t miss out. For any questions please contact Alex Stewart (alex.stewart@nhsconfed.org). 

Speakers

Ian Callaghan

Ian Callaghan

Lived Experience Programme Manager

Rethink Mental Illness

Ian Callaghan

Ian Callaghan

Lived Experience Programme Manager

Rethink Mental Illness

Ian is an ambassador for our Interface Improvement Programme for teams working at the boundaries of acute emergency departments and mental health. Ian has had lived experience of severe mental illness most of his adult life, which has brought him into contact with emergency care on many occasions. At times this has led to hospitalisation and on one occasion detention under the Mental Health Act. Ian has worked for Rethink Mental Illness for the past 10 years and is now a Lived Experience Programme Manager, working on a variety of long- and short-term involvement and co-production projects, as well as policy work around patient safety and the quality of inpatient care. He is a passionate advocate for elevating the voice of lived experience and is delighted to be an ambassador for our collaborative programme.

Dr Mark Buchanan

Dr Mark Buchanan

Emergency Medical Consultant

Wirral University Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust

Dr Mark Buchanan

Dr Mark Buchanan

Emergency Medical Consultant

Wirral University Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust

Dr Mark Buchanan is an adult and paediatric emergency medicine consultant working in Arrowe Park Hospital, part of Wirral University Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust. Mark is an ambassador for our Interface Improvement Programme for teams working at the boundaries of acute emergency departments and mental health. He has developed an interest in improving care given to adults and children attending the emergency department in a mental health crisis and is the Royal College of Emergency Medicine Mental Health Sub-Committee chair, having worked on projects with NHS England, Health Education England and the Department of Health and Social Care.

Dr Mary Docherty

Dr Mary Docherty

Consultant in Liaison Psychiatry

South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust

Dr Mary Docherty

Dr Mary Docherty

Consultant in Liaison Psychiatry

South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust

Mary is a general adult and liaison psychiatrist and national clinical director for adult mental health with NHS England. Mary is an external ambassador for our Interface Improvement Programme, running from May 2025 to June 2026.

Who should attend

This event is open to all.