Latest news with #CentreforMentalHealth
Business Mayor
26-05-2025
- Health
- Business Mayor
Mental health A&E centres to open across England
Specialist mental health crisis centres will be opened across England over the next decade in an attempt to reduce crowding in accident and emergency (A&E) departments, the NHS has confirmed. Ten hospital trusts have been piloting new assessment centres to deal with people experiencing a mental health crisis. The aim is to get these patients into appropriate care in a calm environment, avoiding long waits in A&E. NHS England said the new units would reduce overcrowding in hospitals and relieve pressure on emergency services, including the police. But Andy Bell, the CEO of the Centre for Mental Health, an independent charity, said any new provision needed to be properly funded. The scheme is expected to be expanded nationally to 'dozens of locations', the government said, as part of its 10-year NHS plan. These clinics will be open to walk-in patients as well as those referred by GPs and police, with specialist staff present to treat people in acute mental distress. Speaking to the Times newspaper, NHS England chief Sir Jim Mackey hailed the 'pioneering new model of care', where people can 'get the right support in the right setting'. 'As well as relieving pressure on our busy A&Es, mental health crisis assessment centres can speed up access to appropriate care, offering people the help they need much sooner so they can stay out of hospital.' NHS England said that the some of the centres will be new, self-contained units, while others will be incorporated into existing A&Es. Mr Bell told BBC Breakfast that he was sceptical of the potential effectiveness of the scheme because it was untested. He said it was impossible to separate out physical and mental health problems so simply, calling for separate facilities to be put in place 'carefully'. 'We need to robustly test the model at every stage before we even think about rolling it out nationally,' Mr Bell added. Calling for better funding of NHS mental health services, he noted the share of health spending on mental health treatment had gone down last year and was set to do so again. A recent study of emergency care in England found that the number of people waiting 12 hours or more in A&E after a decision to admit to a ward was the highest since modern records began. It topped 60,000 in January, or 11% of emergency admissions. The government also announced the expansion of a scheme last month to help GPs provide care and advice to patients without them joining long NHS hospital waiting lists in England. Baroness Merron, the minister for mental health, said: 'Too often, people experiencing mental health crisis are not getting the support or care they deserve, and so it is vital that we continue to provide a range of services like this one.' She said the government was 'transforming' services – with £26m invested in new crisis centres, hiring more staff, more talking therapies, and getting waiting lists down. 'On top of this, through our proposed reforms to the Mental Health Act, we will ensure people with the most severe mental health conditions get better more personalised care.' Conservative MP Luke Evans, the shadow minister for health and social care, said that he 'welcomed' the plans, but raised concerns over cuts to mental health spending from the overall NHS budget. He said the plans had 'forced mental health charities and local authorities to redirect their resources away from those struggling most'. 'This government must now make sure that these units are funded properly so that those struggling the most with their mental health can receive the targeted and compassionate care they're in need of.' Helen Morgan MP, the Liberal Democrats health and social care spokesperson, said: 'The government should also be reinstating the scrapped NHS mental health targets, so that people can get the help they need before they reach breaking point.' READ SOURCE
Leader Live
07-05-2025
- Health
- Leader Live
Government's NHS aims ‘need investment in mental health services'
The study, from the Centre for Mental Health and the NHS Confederation, argues there are six areas where investment in the upcoming Government spending review represents good value for money. These include supporting the mental health of new mothers and pregnant women, expanding early support hubs for young people, and investing in community mental health services to reduce demand on A&Es and hospitals. Other measures include parenting programmes, such as one called Incredible Years which has been shown to benefit families, expanding NHS talking therapies and offering mental health support for workers. According to the report, demand for mental health services among both adults and children is on the rise. For example, referrals to mental health services in England increased from 4.4 million a year in 2016-17 to 6.4 million in 2021-22, it said. There has also been an 'alarming' increase in the number of children and young people attending at A&E with mental health needs – they spent more than 900,000 hours in A&E in 2022. Analysis by the Centre for Mental Health found that, in 2022, the cost of mental ill health in England was £300 billion – double the NHS's entire budget for England in that same year. This included economic costs of £110 billion, some £130 billion related to reduced quality of life and premature death among people living with mental health problems, and health and care costs of £60 billion. The report argues that investing in community alternatives to hospital care could offer significant savings to the NHS and help the Government achieve its aims. Andy Bell, chief executive of the Centre for Mental Health, said: 'Mental health is a good investment. 'Targeted investment in proven interventions and priority areas will ensure that money is well spent with positive outcomes for people's mental health and extensive economic benefits. 'From parenting programmes to employment support, and from talking therapies to crisis care, the priorities we have identified will make a long-lasting difference.' Rebecca Gray, mental health director at the NHS Confederation, said: 'The economic, social and health case for investing in mental health services has long been clear, but this report is yet more evidence of the impact it can have. 'We know that as well as costing the country an estimated £300 billion, mental ill health is one of the biggest drivers of economic inactivity. 'This means tackling long waiting lists for mental health treatment is not only good for patients but the economy as well. 'The upcoming spending review and 10-year plan are a fantastic opportunity to invest in shifting resources upstream to improve the nation's mental health. 'The investment areas we have set out with the Centre for Mental Health are areas we know will not only improve care for people with mental ill health but also pay dividends economically and societally as well.' A Department of Health and Social Care spokesman said the Government had inherited a 'broken' mental health system and was determined to fix it. He added: 'To ensure people are getting appropriate care we're investing £26 billion in the NHS, including in mental health services and recruiting 8,500 mental health workers. 'Through our Plan for Change, we are moving care out of hospital and into the community including by investing in talking therapies to support an extra 380,000 patients on top of £26 million for new mental health crisis centres. 'As part of our shift towards prevention, we are providing access to specialist mental health support in every school and creating a network of mental health hubs.'
South Wales Guardian
07-05-2025
- Health
- South Wales Guardian
Government's NHS aims ‘need investment in mental health services'
The study, from the Centre for Mental Health and the NHS Confederation, argues there are six areas where investment in the upcoming Government spending review represents good value for money. These include supporting the mental health of new mothers and pregnant women, expanding early support hubs for young people, and investing in community mental health services to reduce demand on A&Es and hospitals. Other measures include parenting programmes, such as one called Incredible Years which has been shown to benefit families, expanding NHS talking therapies and offering mental health support for workers. According to the report, demand for mental health services among both adults and children is on the rise. For example, referrals to mental health services in England increased from 4.4 million a year in 2016-17 to 6.4 million in 2021-22, it said. There has also been an 'alarming' increase in the number of children and young people attending at A&E with mental health needs – they spent more than 900,000 hours in A&E in 2022. Analysis by the Centre for Mental Health found that, in 2022, the cost of mental ill health in England was £300 billion – double the NHS's entire budget for England in that same year. This included economic costs of £110 billion, some £130 billion related to reduced quality of life and premature death among people living with mental health problems, and health and care costs of £60 billion. The report argues that investing in community alternatives to hospital care could offer significant savings to the NHS and help the Government achieve its aims. Andy Bell, chief executive of the Centre for Mental Health, said: 'Mental health is a good investment. 'Targeted investment in proven interventions and priority areas will ensure that money is well spent with positive outcomes for people's mental health and extensive economic benefits. 'From parenting programmes to employment support, and from talking therapies to crisis care, the priorities we have identified will make a long-lasting difference.' Rebecca Gray, mental health director at the NHS Confederation, said: 'The economic, social and health case for investing in mental health services has long been clear, but this report is yet more evidence of the impact it can have. 'We know that as well as costing the country an estimated £300 billion, mental ill health is one of the biggest drivers of economic inactivity. 'This means tackling long waiting lists for mental health treatment is not only good for patients but the economy as well. 'The upcoming spending review and 10-year plan are a fantastic opportunity to invest in shifting resources upstream to improve the nation's mental health. 'The investment areas we have set out with the Centre for Mental Health are areas we know will not only improve care for people with mental ill health but also pay dividends economically and societally as well.' A Department of Health and Social Care spokesman said the Government had inherited a 'broken' mental health system and was determined to fix it. He added: 'To ensure people are getting appropriate care we're investing £26 billion in the NHS, including in mental health services and recruiting 8,500 mental health workers. 'Through our Plan for Change, we are moving care out of hospital and into the community including by investing in talking therapies to support an extra 380,000 patients on top of £26 million for new mental health crisis centres. 'As part of our shift towards prevention, we are providing access to specialist mental health support in every school and creating a network of mental health hubs.'
Glasgow Times
07-05-2025
- Health
- Glasgow Times
Government's NHS aims ‘need investment in mental health services'
The study, from the Centre for Mental Health and the NHS Confederation, argues there are six areas where investment in the upcoming Government spending review represents good value for money. These include supporting the mental health of new mothers and pregnant women, expanding early support hubs for young people, and investing in community mental health services to reduce demand on A&Es and hospitals. Other measures include parenting programmes, such as one called Incredible Years which has been shown to benefit families, expanding NHS talking therapies and offering mental health support for workers. According to the report, demand for mental health services among both adults and children is on the rise. For example, referrals to mental health services in England increased from 4.4 million a year in 2016-17 to 6.4 million in 2021-22, it said. There has also been an 'alarming' increase in the number of children and young people attending at A&E with mental health needs – they spent more than 900,000 hours in A&E in 2022. Analysis by the Centre for Mental Health found that, in 2022, the cost of mental ill health in England was £300 billion – double the NHS's entire budget for England in that same year. This included economic costs of £110 billion, some £130 billion related to reduced quality of life and premature death among people living with mental health problems, and health and care costs of £60 billion. The report argues that investing in community alternatives to hospital care could offer significant savings to the NHS and help the Government achieve its aims. Andy Bell, chief executive of the Centre for Mental Health, said: 'Mental health is a good investment. 'Targeted investment in proven interventions and priority areas will ensure that money is well spent with positive outcomes for people's mental health and extensive economic benefits. 'From parenting programmes to employment support, and from talking therapies to crisis care, the priorities we have identified will make a long-lasting difference.' Rebecca Gray, mental health director at the NHS Confederation, said: 'The economic, social and health case for investing in mental health services has long been clear, but this report is yet more evidence of the impact it can have. 'We know that as well as costing the country an estimated £300 billion, mental ill health is one of the biggest drivers of economic inactivity. 'This means tackling long waiting lists for mental health treatment is not only good for patients but the economy as well. 'The upcoming spending review and 10-year plan are a fantastic opportunity to invest in shifting resources upstream to improve the nation's mental health. 'The investment areas we have set out with the Centre for Mental Health are areas we know will not only improve care for people with mental ill health but also pay dividends economically and societally as well.' A Department of Health and Social Care spokesman said the Government had inherited a 'broken' mental health system and was determined to fix it. He added: 'To ensure people are getting appropriate care we're investing £26 billion in the NHS, including in mental health services and recruiting 8,500 mental health workers. 'Through our Plan for Change, we are moving care out of hospital and into the community including by investing in talking therapies to support an extra 380,000 patients on top of £26 million for new mental health crisis centres. 'As part of our shift towards prevention, we are providing access to specialist mental health support in every school and creating a network of mental health hubs.'
Rhyl Journal
07-05-2025
- Health
- Rhyl Journal
Government's NHS aims ‘need investment in mental health services'
The study, from the Centre for Mental Health and the NHS Confederation, argues there are six areas where investment in the upcoming Government spending review represents good value for money. These include supporting the mental health of new mothers and pregnant women, expanding early support hubs for young people, and investing in community mental health services to reduce demand on A&Es and hospitals. Other measures include parenting programmes, such as one called Incredible Years which has been shown to benefit families, expanding NHS talking therapies and offering mental health support for workers. According to the report, demand for mental health services among both adults and children is on the rise. For example, referrals to mental health services in England increased from 4.4 million a year in 2016-17 to 6.4 million in 2021-22, it said. There has also been an 'alarming' increase in the number of children and young people attending at A&E with mental health needs – they spent more than 900,000 hours in A&E in 2022. Analysis by the Centre for Mental Health found that, in 2022, the cost of mental ill health in England was £300 billion – double the NHS's entire budget for England in that same year. This included economic costs of £110 billion, some £130 billion related to reduced quality of life and premature death among people living with mental health problems, and health and care costs of £60 billion. The report argues that investing in community alternatives to hospital care could offer significant savings to the NHS and help the Government achieve its aims. Andy Bell, chief executive of the Centre for Mental Health, said: 'Mental health is a good investment. 'Targeted investment in proven interventions and priority areas will ensure that money is well spent with positive outcomes for people's mental health and extensive economic benefits. 'From parenting programmes to employment support, and from talking therapies to crisis care, the priorities we have identified will make a long-lasting difference.' Rebecca Gray, mental health director at the NHS Confederation, said: 'The economic, social and health case for investing in mental health services has long been clear, but this report is yet more evidence of the impact it can have. 'We know that as well as costing the country an estimated £300 billion, mental ill health is one of the biggest drivers of economic inactivity. 'This means tackling long waiting lists for mental health treatment is not only good for patients but the economy as well. 'The upcoming spending review and 10-year plan are a fantastic opportunity to invest in shifting resources upstream to improve the nation's mental health. 'The investment areas we have set out with the Centre for Mental Health are areas we know will not only improve care for people with mental ill health but also pay dividends economically and societally as well.' A Department of Health and Social Care spokesman said the Government had inherited a 'broken' mental health system and was determined to fix it. He added: 'To ensure people are getting appropriate care we're investing £26 billion in the NHS, including in mental health services and recruiting 8,500 mental health workers. 'Through our Plan for Change, we are moving care out of hospital and into the community including by investing in talking therapies to support an extra 380,000 patients on top of £26 million for new mental health crisis centres. 'As part of our shift towards prevention, we are providing access to specialist mental health support in every school and creating a network of mental health hubs.'
