CLINICAL MICROSYSTEMS AND MESOSYSTEMS IN MENTAL HEALTH

▪ This is a summary: the full paper can be accessed at nursingtimes.net

Gray, Mike MBA, DipHSM, LSMS, RMN

Mike Gray, MBA, DipHSM, LSMS, RMN, is organisational risk specialist, Humber Mental Health Teaching NHS Trust.

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THIS ARTICLE HAS BEEN DOUBLE-BLIND PEER-REVIEWED

Nursing Times 103(31):p 30-31, July 31, 2007.

ABSTRACT

Gray, M. (2007) Clinical microsystems and mesosystems in mental health. Nursing Times; 103: 31, 30-31.

This article looks at the service improvement work by Mike Gray and Mike Gill of the modernisation team, Humber Mental Health Teaching NHS Trust. It argues that clinical microsystems (see Background Box) are an effective method for working with frontline teams in mental health. Clinical microsystems have similarities with brief therapy. The same approach can be taken at the mesosystem level. Clinical microsystems are different from mesosystems, which leads to tension. The mesosystem acts as a mediator between clinical microsystems and the wider NHS, and an understanding of both can be obtained by taking a clinical microsystems approach at both levels.