eMHA by Thalamos

What is eMHA by Thalamos?

Our Partners at ELFT have been using Thalamos to complete Mental Health Act forms digitally since 2020. Thalamos has already brought significant benefits including time saved and reduction in errors for a select number of MHA forms:

  • AMHPs: applications for detention and Part 2 of CTO1s and CTO7s 
  • Approved Clinicians: T2s, H5s, CTO1s and CTO7s 
  • Inpatient doctors: H1s 
  • Nurses on our wards: applications for detention and H1s 

Due to the success of the solution, we will be transitioning over to a new and improved version of the platform renamed ‘eMHA by Thalamos’ in Q1 2025.  This new version will include all statutory MHA forms and will help your team to track the completion of MHA processes. It’s being implemented across London NHS Trusts as part of a pan-London NHS England programme, and NEFLT are second in line to go-live.  

Additional information:

For any questions or queries please email: Thalamos.emha@nelft.nhs.uk 

What using the new eMHA by Thalamos will mean for your professional group?

AMHPS

  • You will be able to complete all admission and Community Treatment Order forms through the eMHA system.
  • Additional workflows are supported, such as section 15 amends to allow corrections to be made easily and remotely.

Approved Clinicians

  • Through the eMHA system you can easily complete all forms electronically including admission, treatment, community treatment order and discharge forms.
  • You will be able to access the current MHA detention status for your patients to manage any upcoming MHA deadlines and actions such as renewals.
  • Data validation ensures information is correct first time. Section 15 amends can also be completed remotely if an amend is required

Ward Nurses (receiving officers)

  • Through the eMHA system you can easily complete, process and share all MHA forms including short-term holding powers, renewals and all other forms involving ward teams.
  • You will be able to access your wards dashboard which will show the current MHA detention status for patients on your ward.

Mental Health Act Administrators

  • Access to an overview of your Trust’s patients and their current MHA detention status will drive improved reporting, section expiry notifications and outstanding actions required from staff to help manage MHA deadlines.
  • Additional workflows are supported such as section 15 amends to allow corrections to be easily made. You can also easily access relevant patient history to support administrative processes such as gathering information for Tribunal Services, reducing administrative burden and streamlining MHA processes.
Additional resources:

eMHA by Thalamos training

Everyone will need to complete a short online eMHA training module in order to access the new version of Thalamos, even if you’re already using the current version of Thalamos. The new version will go live in Q1 2025 at which point the current version will become read-only.

The training will be available via STEPS shortly via this link.

What will happen to paper forms?

Where possible, Thalamos should be used to complete MHA forms digitally in the first instance.

For users not yet trained on Thalamos and as additional digital MHA forms are added to Thalamos, paper MHA forms will remain available and can be used if it is considered to be in the best interests of the patient. 

These can be found in the Mental Health (MHA) Forms - section papers.

 

Metropolitan Police Thalamos 434 Form: Receiving patients on Section 136

Long term benefits

You can access MHA Forms from across your Integrated Care System and also view a summary MHA status for patients across London. This will provide relevant patient information so you can request more information about previous episodes of care to inform your assessment of the individual such as whether they should be admitted or for continuity of care or to be closer to their support system.

Mental Health (MHA) forms - section papers

Transfer under Section 19

Renewal of Detention  

Record of Reception England

Responsible clinician barring discharge by nearest relative

Treatment Certificates under Part IV

 Community Treatment Orders

Admission Forms