“The Prime Minister’s pledge of a long term funding settlement for the NHS and her call for improved mental health services as a priority are both much needed and very welcome. But they are not enough to bring about the transformation we need to tackle the injustices and inequalities that affect too many people’s mental health,” Centre for Mental Health chief executive Sarah Hughes said today.
“A real terms funding rise of 3.4% a year for the NHS will give some stability and create opportunities to reinvest in extending and improving mental health support. But it may not be enough to create the conditions for a large scale transformation of services towards earlier intervention.
“If the NHS funding settlement is not at least matched by investment in public health, social care and other vital services that keep people well, support some of the most marginalised people and promote independence, it will leave significant gaps in a system already struggling to get by.
If the NHS funding settlement is not at least matched by investment in public health, social care and other vital services that keep people well, support some of the most marginalised people and promote independence, it will leave significant gaps in a system already struggling to get by.
“We call on the Government today to ensure that its pledge of a long term settlement for the NHS is the starting point for a far reaching long term plan for better health and greater equality in health. We need investment not just in the NHS but in schools, youth services, housing and social security to bring about better mental health for all. We need to see urgent action to reverse disinvestment in public health, social care and drug and alcohol services. And within the NHS we need to start a process of transformation to reinvest in mental health support for people with long term physical conditions, to redesign mental health services to better meet more people’s needs, and to boost primary care for people with mental health difficulties.”
