Paul Jenkins' blog

Paul is the Chief Executive of Rethink Mental Illness.

Paul Jenkins, Chief Executive of Rethink Mental Illness since 2006, has over 20 years experience of management and policy-making in central government and the National Health Service. In 2002 he was awarded an OBE for his role in setting up NHS Direct.

Posts by Paul Jenkins

Treatment can be mass produced, but recovery is personal

04 May 2012 | Posted by Paul Jenkins | 0 comments

I read with interest an interview in last week’s Health Services Journal with the Indian heart surgeon, Devi Shetty. Nicknamed the “Henry Ford of healthcare” he advocates for fundamental changes in the delivery of healthcare based on increasing the scale of delivery, greater use of technology and challenging the historic monopoly of the medical profession. Such changes would deliver major reductions in the cost and improvements in quality.

Why mental health needs a Jack Ashley

24 April 2012 | Posted by Paul Jenkins | 2 comments

The Lords have taken a stand on mental health, now it’s up to all of us to make it a reality

09 February 2012 | Posted by Paul Jenkins | 4 comments

Topics: Campaigns, Stigma and discrimination

Important things don’t always happen when you are looking for them. Last night’s vote by the House of Lords to enshrine in law the principle that mental and physical health must be treated equally within the NHS, may be one of them.

Making it personal – how serious are we?

24 January 2012 | Posted by Paul Jenkins | 0 comments

A couple of years ago personalisation seemed to dominate the policy landscape in health and social care. It even made a major appearance in one of Gordon Brown’s speeches to the Labour Party Conference. Whether it took five or ten years to implement there seemed to be a consensus that this was the direction of travel.

Why words really do matter in mental health

04 January 2012 | Posted by Paul Jenkins | 4 comments

In my five years as the Chief Executive of a mental health charity, I have put my name to a regular stream of letters and press releases criticising the thoughtless use of language by celebrities and other public figures when it comes to mental illness. Sometimes they attract attention, sometimes they are ignored, and sometimes they engender a response of genuine regret for the offence their remarks may have caused.

It’s not “well fair” for the most vulnerable

25 November 2011 | Posted by Paul Jenkins | 4 comments

It was the turn of the Bishops this weekend to express concerns about the Government’s current plans to reform the welfare system. They join a succession of charities and other bodies, Rethink Mental Illness amongst them, who have raised major issues about the their impact on some of the most vulnerable groups in society.

Try to see it my way

17 November 2011 | Posted by Paul Jenkins | 10 comments

On Saturday I was delighted to spend the day with over 200 of our members at Rethink Mental Illness’ annual Members Day and AGM. As ever the day conveyed a wonderful sense of community as we come together to review past achievements and debate future plans for the charity.