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The Health and Social Care Secretary, Wes Streeting, has published an setting out expectations for NHS mental health services spending.

Responding to the figures, Dr Lade Smith CBE, President of the 免费黑料网, said:

“It is illogical that the share of NHS funding for mental health services is being reduced at a time of soaring need and significant staff shortages. Importantly, mental illness affects many young people as they should be entering into the workforce, with 75% of mental disorders emerging by the age of 24.

“The proportion of NHS funding allocated to mental health services will decrease from 8.87% in 2022/23 to 8.71% in 2025/26. This will equate to these vital services missing out on an estimated ?300 million or more that they would have received if their share of spend had been maintained.

“This is a devastating blow to the 1.6 million people with mental illness waiting for care and treatment who are already excluded from plans to bring down NHS waiting lists. Delays to care put people at greater risk of developing a chronic mental illness which will affect all aspects of their life and could result in them becoming disabled.

“People with mental illness who are provided with timely and assertive care are more likely to recover, and thus more likely to reach their full potential. This means individuals will be healthier and happier, but they are also likely to be more productive, and greater productivity is better for economic growth.

“Mental illness accounts for more than 20% of the disease burden in the UK. Mental health services should be receiving approximately ?36bn in 2025/26 rather than the ?15.6bn they are currently expected to receive. Despite this chronic underfunding, mental health services are seeing more people than ever before, but this is still not enough – we simply cannot meet the demand.

“The UK Government’s commitment to the Mental Health Investment Standard, which safeguards mental health spending, was a welcome first step. It must not waste the progress that has already been made. If the Government is serious about increasing productivity, then it must prioritise mental ill-health and deliver the investment in services and staffing that is needed to improve outcomes and get the nation back on track.

“We appreciate there is growing pressure across the NHS and difficult decisions need to be made. The College is ready and willing to use our expertise to work with the UK Government on practical solutions to these challenges.”