Interprofessional collaboration in health care has been high on the political agenda in recent years. however, despite several government reports, progress has been relatively slow. several structural and organisational challenges need to be addressed, alongside the development of valid research in this field, to accelerate the pace of change. this article describes how interprofessional education, in conjunction with service initiatives, offers a way forward for the development of collaborative practice based on users’ and carers’ needs

Service users, such as clients of mental health services, have specific needs which require a multidisciplinary team approach to care planning and delivery (Couchman 1995). For example, within mental health care, specialties such as community care, elderly care, child, adolescent and family services, parent and baby services, substance abuse, rehabilitation and liaison psychiatry, require a range of specialist services with dedicated resources.