In 2008/09, total investment in this area increased by 3.96 per cent in real terms, from £5.53bn to £5.89bn. Furthermore there has been a 50 per cent real terms rise in investment since 2001/02. Other key points highlighted in the report are found below:
- While the proportion of investment reported in direct services has declined slightly to 80.9 per cent in 2008/09, this still represents an increase on 75.4 per cent in 2002/03.
- All but one of the Strategic Health Authority areas delivered real terms increases in mental health investment. However there was a significant range in the funding injections, from 0.2 per cent in East of England to 7.2 per cent in the South West.
- South Central SHA was the exception, with the report highlighting a decrease of £26m in investment by Oxfordshire’s Local Improvement Team (LIT).
- The average investment per head has increased from £169 in 2007/08 to £181 in 2008/09. London SHA reported the highest per capita spend at £195, whereas the North East had the lowest level at £170.
- The level of investment in the three priority areas (Assertive Outreach, Crisis Resolution and Early Intervention) has increased by 11 per cent in real terms in the past year. In cash terms the funding has risen from £99m in 2002/03 to £464m in 2008/09.
- Over the past six years Access and Crisis services (167 per cent) and Secure and High Dependency services (140 per cent) have enjoyed the greatest real terms investment increases.
Visit the Department of Health website to download the report