“Investment promised for improved mental health support must be provided in full to ensure the NHS continues to deliver the changes we need over the next three years,” Centre for Mental Health chief executive Sarah Hughes said today.
Responding to Simon Stevens’ warning at the NHS Providers annual conference yesterday about pressure on overall NHS funding, Sarah Hughes said: “The Government has committed to increase NHS mental health funding by £1 billion by 2020/21 as well as investing in children’s mental health services. This investment is vital to bring mental health support closer to equality with other health services. It is essential that wider pressures on the NHS do not divert resources from this endeavour. Too often in the past mental health care has been sacrificed when finances are straitened. Ensuring this does not happen in the coming months and years will be a true test of the NHS’s commitment to equality for mental health.
Too often in the past mental health care has been sacrificed when finances are straitened. Ensuring this does not happen in the coming months and years will be a true test of the NHS’s commitment to equality for mental health.
“It is also vital that investment is made in local authority funded services offering mental health support, including social care, public health, housing and youth work. Without them, the NHS will continue to run to stand still as it seeks to keep up with rising demand. The NHS cannot work in isolation, and investment must be made across the whole system to ensure funding is used wisely to achieve the biggest impact.”
