IS THERE ROOM FOR IMPROVEMENT?

There is always room for improvement.

For example, the audit found that while all junior staff are receiving training and are supervised for their first ECT session, problems remain with continuing supervision.This is partly due to the fact that few consultants have protected time in their contracts for ECT. We have made clear recommendations about this.

One of the main conclusions of the audit was that more consultant-led teaching and supervision is needed if current standards of good practice are to be improved.

The important role of nursing staff in the delivery of ECT was highlighted and the audit has provided support to the Scottish ECT Nurses Forum. It was noticeable that the survey was completed most efficiently at those sites where the ECT nurse had an extended role often including patient preparation and follow up thereby improving the quality of the whole process.There may therefore be a case for the appointment of an ECT nurse specialist to every service.