Official launch of Dyfodol marked by landmark Clozapine patient safety protocol

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The landmark National Psychosis Conference at Cardiff's Principality Stadium officially marked the formal launch of Dyfodol (Welsh for 'Future'), a major new programme transforming the strategy, commissioning, and clinical design of mental health services across Wales.

Held jointly by Dyfodol and the Royal College of Psychiatrists in Wales, the conference provided the platform for the keynote launch of Wim's Protocol, a crucial new UK-wide safety regime for prescribing and monitoring clozapine.

Wim's Protocol

Co-produced by carer lived experience, academic, and clinical experts, Wim's Protocol is named in memory of William (Wim) Northcott, who lived with schizophrenia and tragically passed away from cardiac arrest in July 2021. Wim's sister, Kate Northcott Spall, delivered a moving keynote address introducing the new protocol alongside Dr Ed Beveridge.

Key elements of Wim's Protocol include:

• Clear physical health standards: Synthesises core best practices for physical health and medication interaction monitoring across all stages of clozapine treatment.
• Universal usability: Designed for seamless implementation across diverse clinical settings.
• Empowering communities: Accessible directly to families, carers, support workers, and friends to help non-clinical key figures spot physical health warning signs early.
• Nationwide Welsh commitment: Dyfodol has formally committed to advocating for Wim's Protocol to be embedded across service pathways in Wales.

The launch of Dyfodol: designing future mental health services

Hosted by the National Collaborating Centre for Mental Health (NCCMH) in partnership with the RCPsych in Wales and NHS Wales' Joint Commissioning Committee (JCC), Dyfodol was established to model and inform evidence-based care and commissioning.

Since its inception, Dyfodol has delivered extensive research and workforce development initiatives.

Professor Alka Ahuja MBE, Vice President of the Royal College of Psychiatrists, said:

“Dyfodol operates as a unique partnership to inform the future strategy and commissioning of mental health services in Wales. Dyfodol is shaping care that is proactive, safe, and equitable.”

Key highlights from the National Psychosis Conference

The conference brought together global researchers, clinicians, and experts by experience to discuss cutting-edge innovations:

• Understanding postpartum psychosis: Dr Sally Wilson (Action on Postpartum Psychosis) highlighted the critical, unpredictable nature of postpartum psychosis, a medical emergency where 48% of cases occur 'out of the blue' in women with no prior psychiatric history. She emphasized a crucial four-hour assessment window upon suspicion, the gold-standard role of Mother and Baby Units (MBUs) in recovery, and noted that 28% of mothers face readmission in the 12 months following hospital discharge.
• Closing the physical mortality gap: Dr Ed Beveridge outlined a whole-system preventative model to tackle the 7-20 year reduced life expectancy gap faced by individuals with severe mental illness.
• AI and 'epistemic drift': Dr Hamilton Morrin presented ground-breaking research on generative AI interactions triggering or reinforcing psychotic delusions, recommending 'digital safety plans' and developer accountability standards.
• All-Wales psychiatric genomics service: Dr Kim Kendall detailed how genetic counselling and rare variant testing (e.g., 22q11.2 deletion) are transforming clinical understanding and non-psychiatric health management in psychosis.
• Digital innovations in cardiac monitoring: Professor Mani Santhana Krishnan presented pilot results showing personal 6-lead ECG devices, saved 11.6 minutes per reading and significantly improved patient privacy during routine antipsychotic monitoring.

A report on the conference has recently been issued.