We sought to develop and introduce annual physical health checks and offer lifestyle advice for out-patients diagnosed with schizophrenia or bipolar disorder in two semi-rural areas in the north-east of Scotland. the results for the first year of the clinics are presented.

Seventy-eight patients were invited to the clinics in the first year. Attendance rates varied from 76% in one centre to 38% in the other; 75 individual significant physical health problems were identified and highlighted to the patient and their general practitioner.

The high attendance rate in one half of the catchment area demonstrates the potential for physical health screening for this vulnerable group of patients. the identification of significant levels of previously undiagnosed physical morbidity offers opportunity for intervention. Several innovative lifestyle interventions arose from the project and have been maintained.

To develop standards for physical health monitoring in patients on antipsychotics in a forensic environment. We reviewed recommendations for physical health checks from key publications and then agreed a consensus on what to monitor and how often.

We developed a standardised form to ensure the requisite minimum monitoring is performed when a patient is newly prescribed an antipsychotic drug or the dose is increased, when an abnormality is detected and for routine annual physical health monitoring.

We have produced a pragmatic solution to the gap between the recognised risks to physical health of individuals treated with antipsychotic medication and the need for clear, unambiguous standards of physical healthcare.

A national survey of members of the Scottish division of the Royal College of Psychiatrists to establish the training in neuropsychology they have received, their views on neuropsychology service provision and on potential formal postgraduate neuropsychology training opportunities.

A 54% (n = 288) consultant psychiatrist response rate was achieved. the responses suggest that where specialist neuropsychology services exist, they are not perceived to be sufficient to deal with clinical demand. Consultant psychiatrists indicated that there are limited training opportunities in neuropsychology for psychiatrists, and this seems to be reflected in their limited confidence in interpreting basic recommended neuropsychological assessment tools. There seems to be a definite desire among consultant psychiatrists for postgraduate training opportunities.

Scottish psychiatrists desire an increase in formal neuropsychology training opportunities.

To survey the attitudes of in-patients on an all-female ward to staff gender. All patients were invited to complete an anonymous questionnaire which was then repeated on a four-weekly basis for 4 months. Staff members were surveyed once within this period.

Only 15% of patients (n = 52) wanted all staff members to be female, whereas 87% reported feeling comfortable with male staff; 51% would prefer a predominantly female, mixed-gender staff. All staff (n = 11) were in favour of mixed-gender staffing.

Current best practice for staffing single-gender acute in-patient units is unclear. This survey is in line with findings from other studies in that a large majority of female in-patients prefer to be in a unit with mixed staff.

To explore attitudes and perceptions regarding workplace-based assessment (WPBA) among psychiatric trainees in Wales, identify current problems and recommend measures to successfully implement WPBA. An anonymous questionnaire-based, cross-sectional online national survey was conducted involving all psychiatric specialty registrars in Wales.

Out of 88 specialty registrars in Wales, 81 participated in the survey, a response rate of 92%. the survey highlighted widespread problems and negative attitudes among trainees towards WPBA. Numerous concerns, involving assessment tools, online system, quality of assessors and practicalities of assessments were identified.

The negative attitudes harboured by many trainees would certainly contribute towards undermining the efficacy of WPBA to improve training. In this context, specific measures with the potential to address the shortcomings identified during the survey are discussed, with a view to improving WPBA and rendering it more acceptable to trainees, and in doing so, facilitate the improvement of training.

We surveyed educational supervisors and trainees in Wessex about their experience of the first 6 months of using workplace-based assessments (WPBAs), to see whether they needed further support in using them and, if so, in which areas. An anonymous questionnaire was sent to all trainees and educational supervisors in Wessex.

Overall, 63% of trainees and 61% of educational supervisors responded; 22% of supervisors had not received training in WPBA and 61% of trainees identified barriers to completing it. Non-medical staff were rarely approached for assessments.

There is a need for further training of supervisors, a more user-friendly IT system and expansion of the role of non-medical staff as assessors.