The eMHA by Thalamos system is a new digital tool to support safer, faster and more joined up care for people detained under the Mental Health Act (MHA).

Prior to eMHA by Thalamos there was no joined-up system for accessing MHA patient information. Also the current process for assessing and treating people detained under the MHA largely relied on staff completing and sharing paper-based forms. This could make the process slow and errors could occur negatively effecting patients through delays in care.

The new eMHA by Thalamos system enables relevant staff to access patient information and securely complete MHA statutory forms as well as digitally share them with all relevant staff within their Trust and partner organisations. This supports them to provide the right joined-up care safely and more quickly.

The eMHA by Thalamos system was introduced at East London NHS Foundation Trust in November 2024. North East London NHS Foundation Trust and South West London and St George’s Mental Health NHS Trust introduced it in late January 2025. South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust and Oxleas NHS Foundation Trust introduced it in late March 2025. 

Health and care staff such as doctors, nurses, Approved Mental Health Professionals and social workers involved in caring for the patient, as well as mental health legal teams, can view information held within the eMHA by Thalamos system. 

Wider health and care staff such as GPs or staff working in Emergency Departments will be able to see summary information of the patient’s MHA status via the London Care Record in due course.

This makes it easier for different frontline staff to work together to best meet the needs of patients.  

No. The eMHA by Thalamos system is available for frontline health and care staff to support them provide safer, faster and more joined-up care.

It joins up and shares information at the point of care so it is easier for different frontline staff to work together to best meet the needs of patients.  

The key source of this information is the Electronic Patient Record system used by each Mental Health Trust. People can request to see information held about them within these systems by contacting the relevant hospital trust.

Yes. The Thalamos eMHA software meets the rigorous security standards required by the NHS and local authorities.

This includes being Cyber Essentials Plus Certified, Data Security and Protection Toolkit Standards Exceeded, DTAC Compliant and undergoes annual (as a minimum) Crest Approved Penetration Test.

In addition data held within Thalamos is encrypted at rest and in-transit and either Single Sign On or Multi-Factor Authentications is enabled further boosting its security.

It is essential that the new system meets the needs of both patients and health and care staff. That is why Thalamos (the eMHA system’s supplier) developed the system in consultation with a Design Group consisting of clinicians, Approved Mental Health Professionals, data protection experts and people with lived experience (ie patients and carer representatives).

This Design Group meets on an ongoing basis to review developments with the system and is supplemented by Quarterly Steering Groups where users, prospective users and those with lived experience continue to influence the system’s development.

In addition, each Trust implementing the eMHA by Thalamos system has held briefing sessions with their local service user and carer groups to introduce the new system and answer any questions. 

OneLondon is in touch with the three other Mental Health Trusts about their potential future involvement in the programme at a time that is right for them.