UK government appears to be deprioritising mental health
Mind has responded to the latest NHS England planning guidance. The guidance sets out instructions, targets and priorities for health leaders.
Key points:
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The guidance sets out no further plans to tackle the two-million-people long mental health waiting lists.
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Mental health targets, including for physical health checks for people with a severe mental illness and increasing access to adult community mental health services have been removed.
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The Mental Health Investment Standard will be retained, but this only ensures that funding for mental health allocated by Integrated Care Boards keeps pace with overall NHS spending.
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The guidance no longer mentions the need to implement the Patient and carer race equality framework, which risks this being deprioritised as an area of focus for NHS mental health trusts
Dr Sarah Hughes, Chief Executive of Mind, said:
“The lack of a credible plan to get the two million people on mental health waiting lists the help they need, the dropping of key mental health targets, and lack of adequate funding means this government appears to be deprioritising mental health.
“We know that all areas of health have to do their bit and pull together to help the nation recover after the pandemic and cost-of-living crisis. But without a proper plan and investment, this is not possible.
“Now is not the time to take a step back on mental health. We do not believe that the government will deliver on its health and growth missions without a transformative mental health plan that improves the speed and quality of care and tackles the root causes of the country’s growing mental health needs. Through our federation of Mind services across the country we know it’s possible, but only with a genuine commitment to giving mental health the same focus, time and resources as physical health.”