Videos / HDR UK Midlands Webinar: Activity and evaluation analysis for neighbourhood mental health teams in Birmingham and Solihull (41:32)

HDR UK Midlands Webinar: Activity and evaluation analysis for neighbourhood mental health teams in Birmingham and Solihull (41:32)

HDR UK Midlands

14 July 2026

Last Updated

1 January 2024

In this presentation, John O’Neill, Business Insight Lead for Mental Health at BSOL ICB, NHS Midlands and Lancashire CSU, provides an in-depth analysis of the Neighbourhood Mental Health Teams (NMHTs) operating within Birmingham and Solihull. These teams form a core part of the Mental Health Community Transformation Programme, which seeks to enhance access to mental health services by embedding mental health professionals within primary care settings.

A comprehensive data reporting solution has been implemented using the Mental Health Services Data Set (MHSDS). Key metrics such as referral rates, contact times, waiting periods, and demographic insights are analysed through visualisation tools including SQL, Tableau, and the "Aristotle" platform. The report also addresses several challenges, notably delays in the transition from MHSDS version 5 to version 6, and issues surrounding ethnicity coding within the data.

Key findings reveal significant disparities in service access, with Solihull showing lower levels of engagement compared to Birmingham, particularly in more affluent areas. Further analysis of mental health assessment tools such as Dialogue and ARCADS provides insight into patient dissatisfaction, with metrics covering areas such as mental health, physical activity, and job satisfaction. Although paired scoring is limited, some improvement was observed in areas like employment and social relationships following interventions. Additionally, trends in children's anxiety and depression highlight that patients from more deprived areas experience less improvement compared to those from more affluent backgrounds.

The presentation highlights the importance of improving service accessibility and promoting equitable care across the region. It calls for a broader, system-wide impact analysis, focusing on areas such as reduced emergency admissions and addressing inequalities in waiting times.

Organisation

HDR UK Midlands

HDR UK Midlands is one of the nine regional networks within Health Data Research UK (HDR UK), the UK’s national institute for health data research. HDR UK Midlands aims to improve health outcomes by linking and using health data across the region to drive health related research and innovation. As part of this mission, HDR UK Midlands connects universities, researchers, and health organisations across the Midlands to focus on local health priorities, share expertise, and develop impactful health data projects. By working together, HDR UK Midlands supports studies on disease prevention, diagnostics, and personalised treatments, helping to improve healthcare for people in the Midlands and contribute to national health research efforts.