1 February 2023

KHP Mind & Body’s Lead Nurse [pictured] shares his interest in the mind-body connection and the benefits of working in a partnership.

What is your role within the KHP partnership?

I am a mental health nurse. Since 2019 I’ve worked in the Mind & Body Programme as Lead Nurse on the Integrating our Mental and Physical Healthcare Systems Project (IMPHS). The IMPHS Project aims to improve the physical health outcomes for people living with serious mental illness.

In September 2022 I began a part-time NIHR fellowship with related to my interest in obesity and mental health.

What do you enjoy most about your role?

My day-to day role varies a lot. I’ve enjoyed working to implement new initiatives, like Consultant Connect at South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust, as well as developing and piloting new services such as a Physical Health Clinic for mental health inpatients. One of the highlights is also bringing research into practice, and my work supported a successful application for an NIHR Fellowship.

What inspired you to get into this work?

My interest in the connection between mental and physical health began during my nurse training at King’s College London and has continued throughout my career. Patients have told me lot of times that their mental health won’t improve unless I can help them with what’s important to them, which is often something linked to their physical health.

What are the benefits of working in partnership?

Having help and support to achieve goals is great. At King’s Health Partners you can reach out easily to world-leading experts who are usually very willing and pleased to help.

What would be your career top tip?

Listen to patients and keep them at the heart of everything you do. Also, be kind to yourself and have courage to grow ambitions.

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* Ray McGrath is an ICA Pre-doctoral Clinical and Practitioner Academic Fellow supported by Health Education England and the National Institute for Health and Care Research.

To learn more about the IMPHS project watch out webinar series here.