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Wim’s protocol: how to safely monitor clozapine

When 39-year old William (Wim) Northcott died in 2021 in his residential care home, his sister Kate began a determined search for answers. She discovered that Wim’s prescribed medication, clozapine, had materially contributed to his death. Over the next three years, Kate investigated widespread failures in clozapine monitoring, culminating in her findings being published in The Times in January 2024. Refusing to let Wim’s death pass without meaningful change, Kate worked with the Chief Executive of the Medicines and Healthcare Regulatory Agency (MHRA) and collaborated closely with the President of the Royal College of Psychiatrists, Dr Lade Smith and her team. Together, they developed ‘Wim’s protocol’, a new approach to safer clozapine monitoring. In this episode, you’ll hear directly from the experts behind this groundbreaking protocol. They will: - explore the drivers and impact of preventable clozapine-related deaths outline how carers can support loved ones who take clozapine - introduce the key elements of the Royal College of Psychiatrists’ new safety guidance, and - discuss the future of clozapine monitoring, including potential changes to blood-test frequency. Disclaimer: Thank you for listening to this Royal College of Psychiatrists CPD eLearning podcast. This podcast provides information, not advice. The content in this podcast is provided for general information only and is not intended to, and does not amount to, advice that you should rely on. It is not an alternative to specific, professional advice. Although we make reasonable efforts to present accurate information in our podcasts, we make no representations, warranties or guarantees, whether expressed or implied, that the content in this podcast is accurate, complete or up to date. If you have any questions about any medical matter, you should consult your doctor or other professional healthcare provider without delay. If you think you are experiencing any medical condition, you should seek immediate attention from a doctor or professional healthcare provider. Please note that the views of the interviewees are not necessarily those of the Royal College of Psychiatrists.

Hoarding

Hoarding disorder is often misunderstood, underdiagnosed and challenging to manage. This podcast delves into hoarding and hoarding disorder; Dr Lynne Drummond discusses the prevalence, risks and treatment challenges associated with hoarding. In this interview, we will look at the prevalence of hoarding and its overlap with other mental health disorders, what support is available to patients and their relatives, and review the current research and effective interventions available for hoarding. Disclaimer: Thank you for listening to this Royal College of Psychiatrists CPD eLearning podcast. This podcast provides information, not advice. The content in this podcast is provided for general information only and is not intended to, and does not amount to, advice that you should rely on. It is not an alternative to specific, professional advice. Although we make reasonable efforts to present accurate information in our podcasts, we make no representations, warranties or guarantees, whether expressed or implied, that the content in this podcast is accurate, complete or up to date. If you have any questions about any medical matter, you should consult your doctor or other professional healthcare provider without delay. If you think you are experiencing any medical condition, you should seek immediate attention from a doctor or professional healthcare provider. Please note that the views of the interviewees are not necessarily those of the Royal College of Psychiatrists.

Agency in youth mental health

As psychiatrists, it is important to consider how a young person’s interactions with healthcare professionals can be a key moment in their life, where their agency is either reaffirmed or threatened and undermined. In this podcast episode, we explore the role of agency in youth mental health, and how upholding this within the therapeutic relationship can have a direct impact on future health outcomes. With the help of our expert panel, we review the impact of optimising young people's agency in conversations about mental health and treatment. If you would like to share your thoughts on this podcast with the interviewees, please complete this short form: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdC9SmWpFpW_qeuPBFtou40VIHqaO75LVV11L9t5fTILc0TsQ/viewform Disclaimer: Thank you for listening to this Royal College of Psychiatrists CPD eLearning podcast. This podcast provides information, not advice. The content in this podcast is provided for general information only and is not intended to, and does not amount to, advice that you should rely on. It is not an alternative to specific, professional advice. Although we make reasonable efforts to present accurate information in our podcasts, we make no representations, warranties or guarantees, whether expressed or implied, that the content in this podcast is accurate, complete or up to date. If you have any questions about any medical matter, you should consult your doctor or other professional healthcare provider without delay. If you think you are experiencing any medical condition, you should seek immediate attention from a doctor or professional healthcare provider. Please note that the views of the interviewees are not necessarily those of the Royal College of Psychiatrists.

Big Questions in Psychiatry: Can medications ever help psychiatric disorders?

In our Big Questions in Psychiatry podcast series, we explore the complex and messy questions shaping psychiatry. In this podcast, we look at the role of medications in psychiatric disorders, the stigma associated with psychotropic medication and whether or not they truly are more problematic than medications used for physical illnesses. Prof Subodh Dave interviews the lead author of ‘The Maudsley Deprescribing Guidelines’, Prof David Taylor, to uncover whether or not medications can work ever work in psychiatric disorders. The video-based version of this podcast is available via the CPD eLearning subscription on the eLearning Hub. Disclaimer: Thank you for listening to this Royal College of Psychiatrists CPD eLearning podcast. This podcast provides information, not advice. The content in this podcast is provided for general information only and is not intended to, and does not amount to, advice that you should rely on. It is not an alternative to specific, professional advice. Although we make reasonable efforts to present accurate information in our podcasts, we make no representations, warranties or guarantees, whether expressed or implied, that the content in this podcast is accurate, complete or up to date. If you have any questions about any medical matter, you should consult your doctor or other professional healthcare provider without delay. If you think you are experiencing any medical condition, you should seek immediate attention from a doctor or professional healthcare provider. Please note that the views of the interviewees are not necessarily those of the Royal College of Psychiatrists.

Human rights as applied to mental health: do psychiatrists really know it all?

Human rights promotion and protection continue to remain highly relevant in psychiatric practice, so it is imperative that psychiatrists are aware of developments being made in international law. Chair of the Royal College of Psychiatrists’ Special Committee on Human Rights, Professor Piyal Sen, presents this podcast to highlight the central role of human rights in psychiatric practice. He is joined by the co-authors of Mental Health and Human Rights (2024), Professor Norman Sartorius and Professor Neeraj Gill, as well as the first permanent Human Rights Officer at the NHS, Dr Tallyn Gray to discuss the role that psychiatrists can play in upholding and advocating for the rights of their patients. Disclaimer: Thank you for listening to this Royal College of Psychiatrists CPD eLearning podcast. This podcast provides information, not advice. The content in this podcast is provided for general information only and is not intended to, and does not amount to, advice that you should rely on. It is not an alternative to specific, professional advice. Although we make reasonable efforts to present accurate information in our podcasts, we make no representations, warranties or guarantees, whether expressed or implied, that the content in this podcast is accurate, complete or up to date. If you have any questions about any medical matter, you should consult your doctor or other professional healthcare provider without delay. If you think you are experiencing any medical condition, you should seek immediate attention from a doctor or professional healthcare provider. Please note that the views of the interviewees are not necessarily those of the Royal College of Psychiatrists.