11. FURTHER WORK

Funding was granted for a six month extension to the project to develop a strategy to implement the findings and support the integration of the audit into routine clinical practice. This will maintain the Scottish ECT Audit Network (SEAN) as a forum for communication to compare the quality of treatment provided at present and refine agreement on best practice. Results of a questionnaire to all ECT consultants are presently awaited and will add to the information available.

It is proposed that data on ECT will continue to be collected on a national basis via an information technology (IT) system currently being developed in consultation with the Information and Statistics Division (ISD) of the National Health Service in Scotland. The system will include demographic and outcome data and the monitoring of side effects similar to the yellow card system for reporting drug side effects.

The pressure on management to protect consultant time for training and supervision and the support of the National ECT Nurses Forum will continue.

The information generated by the project (and in the longer term available through a routine system of data capture) will be of value for a range of purposes and interests. It is planned that the results will be published in scientific journals and be made available as appropriate to each level of service from patient care through Trust, Health Board and National levels to the general public.