Local MP, Huw Merriman, today joined a Parliamentary review on the future of mental health service provision. This review follows the delivery, earlier this year, by the independent Mental Health Taskforce of a 'Five Year Forward View' report for Mental Health. The report provided a review of the current state of mental health service provision and made recommendations as to how the service could be radically improved. NHS England accepted all of the recommendations in the report.
The Taskforce's recommendations include three priority actions for the NHS by 2020/21:
- a 7 day NHS: right care, right time, right quality
- an integrated approach to mental and physical health
- promoting good mental health and preventing poor mental health
Having attended the initial launch, and having campaigned for better mental health services, Huw was invited to the briefing review in Parliament to set out the current status of implementation. The briefing was delivered by members of the Taskforce, which included Paul Farmer, Chief Executive of the mental health charity Mind, and leaders from across NHS England.
As part of its commitment, and utilising the extra £1billion delivered by the Government by 2020 for Mental Health service provision, NHS England aims to deliver the following by 2020:
- 70,000 more children to access evidence-based mental health care interventions
- Intensive home treatment to be available in every part of England as an alternative to hospital
- A 10% reduction in suicide and all agencies to have prevention plans in place by 2017
- 600,000 more people to have access to evidence-based psychological therapy
- 60% of people experiencing a psychosis episode to access care within two weeks
- No acute hospital to be without all-age mental health liaison services
- Mental health provision for those with learning disabilities to be reviewed to ensure appropriate beds are available
- An extra 30,000 women to be given evidence-based perinatal care access
- 280,000 people will be given access to physical health checks and interventions
- Each CCG will have its mental health performance monitored and its performance will be published quarterly for constituents to review:
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The Taskforce reported that challenges in implementing the review and programme are around workforce retention, local authority and financial pressures, instability in health markets and stigma and public awareness in mental health.
Huw said "The implementation of the Five Year Forward View, and the additional £1billion provided by the Government, should help to transform the delivery of mental health provision. This is an issue which many of my constituents have been personally impacted by and care deeply about. Mental health provision, when delivered well, can transform lives. I am optimistic about what I have heard but remain focussed in ensuring that this plan is delivered in the years to come."