Centre for Mental Health

Centre for Mental Health welcomes focus on mental health in new NHS Operating Framework

24 November 2011

“The new Operating Framework sets out a clear challenge to the NHS next year to make mental health an equal priority to physical health,” Centre for Mental Health chief executive Sean Duggan said today.

The NHS Operating Framework sets the priorities for the NHS in England for the next year. Responding to the publication today of next year’s Operating Framework, Sean Duggan said: “The Government’s mental health strategy has sent out a clear message to the whole of the NHS that our mental health should be given ‘parity of esteem’ with our physical health. The Operating Framework today shows how NHS trusts, PCT clusters and emerging clinical commissioning groups can put that principle into practice.

“We know that investing in good quality liaison psychiatry services in general hospitals saves the NHS more money than it costs as well as improving the care people get. We know that investing in the mental health of children and families can bring about long term gains not just in young people’s health and wellbeing but in their life chances more widely. And we know that improving access to psychological therapies should stop too many people from waiting too long for vital treatment when they need it.

“We call upon all NHS organisations to focus on these crucial issues. Despite the organisational turmoil and financial pressures many NHS organisations face, implementing the mental health strategy will make a difference to millions of lives and improve the value for money we all get from our NHS.”