NALNECT, the National Association of Lead Nurses in ECT, is a committee of practising ECT clinic nurses, representing all the regional ECT nurse special interest groups in England and Wales.

As a committee we believe that all service users are individuals.

We believe ECT should not be considered as a stand-alone intervention. It is one of a variety of beneficial treatments available and should be viewed as part of a holistic process that recognizes the opinions and contributions that service users and carers as well as members of the multi-professional teams provide.

Formed in November 2002, our aims are:

To provide expert consultation, commentary and communication on all matters relating to ECT practice.

To be a resource and provide information and advice on all aspects relating to ECT practice.

To provide an open approach in providing a foundation for consultation for evidence based best practice in ECT.

To promote the provision of Nurses Special Interest Groups throughout the country and help to enable every ECT clinic to be represented.

Our terms of reference are:

To influence, implement and disseminate ECT policies/procedures in consultation with ECT nurses, users, carers and colleagues from other disciplines.

To propose solutions and advise on ECT delivery, practice development and policy implementation.

To contribute to the translation of national policy into local practice via regional and local special interest groups.

To develop and maintain links with other national and international professional bodies, e.g. RCN, RCPsych, RCA, DOH, EFFECT, ACT.

To work with ECTAS improving standards & developing nurse training.

To promote training at degree level for ECT nurses, thereby giving validated recognition for ECT nurses as specialist practitioners.

To promote ECT research.

To produce a resource/database of ECT clinics.

To directly influence the implementation of best practice.

To promote benchmarking and audit of standards.

To facilitate an ECT Nurses Conference on a regular basis.

To liaise with the Scottish ECT Audit Network SEAN).