Mark Hendrick – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Mark Hendrick on 2016-02-05.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will introduce guidance to NHS trusts on notification of next of kin after the admission to NHS facilities of a person who has taken an overdose of medication.

Alistair Burt

We do not intend to introduce guidance to National Health Service trusts on notification of next of kin after the admission to NHS facilities of a person who has taken an overdose of medication. However, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence guideline (CG133) regarding the longer-term management of self-harm in over 8s sets out that care plans – including risk management and crisis plans – should be multidisciplinary and developed collaboratively with the person who self-harms and, provided the person agrees, with their family, carers or significant others. Care plans should also be shared with an individual’s general practitioner.