Wes Streeting MP, the Health and Social Care Secretary has told the Commons health and social care committee that he is 'committed' to the Mental Health Investment Standard – which requires integrated care boards to increase mental health services spending by at least as much as their total allocations.
Welcoming the decision, Dr Lade Smith CBE, President of the 免费黑料网 said:
“It is extremely welcome to see Government’s commitment to keeping the Mental Health Investment Standard. We recognise the financial pressures being faced by both national and regional bodies, and often find that mental health funding is deprioritised in these circumstances.
The MHIS is currently the strongest safeguard for protecting and increasing mental health investment year on year and has resulted in nationwide perinatal mental health services; expanded eating disorders services for children and young people; A&E streaming services which reduce waiting times for mental health patients and 40,000 extra mental health staff.
I am delighted that this Labour government also recognises the importance of mental health care, not only to individuals and their families, but also to the productivity of the nation.
“We hope to see ongoing mental health service prioritisation in the 2025/2026 NHS planning and operational guidance. The NHS 10-Year Health Plan provides a real opportunity for RCPsych to work with the DHSC to achieve their ambitious targets to tackle health inequalities and provide early treatment and prevention of mental illness for all.”
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