Mind says quality of mental health services remains inconsistent

Posted Thursday 18 December 2003

"Despite some significant localised improvements, mental health services still have a long way to go before they receive the priority currently given to the rest of the NHS." says Mind’s Chief Executive Richard Brook.

Responding to the publication today of the Commission for Health Improvement’s (CHI) report into the state of Britain’s mental health services, the mental health charity was pleased that signs of progress in the delivery of better mental health services have been identified. It was particularly good to see an improvement in the area of acute services; - a particular focus of the report

However, yet again, four years into the NHS reform programme for mental health, today’s report clearly demonstrates that for many people using mental health services the quality and choice of services available is still very much a postcode lottery dependent on where they live.

Speaking today Richard Brook, Mind’s Chief Executive said:
"CHI may have found encouraging signs of improvements but sadly they are not yet consistent across the country. The improvements highlighted today only form part of the picture. There remain areas where our services need urgent improvement. By listening to our network of local groups working at the front line, Mind has built up a picture of patchy services and limited choice that will only be improved with more targeted resources, better staffing levels and genuine choice of treatments."

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