Press release: Progress made on mental Health but Challenges Remain

20 Dec 2004

Good progress that has been made in making mental health services more responsive to users, but there are still several challenges ahead, the NHS Confederation said in response to the National Director's report on implementation of the mental health National Services Framework.

Sandy Taylor, chair of the NHS Confederation's mental health committee, said "This report is an important reminder of the progress that has been made over the past five years. These real benefits are demonstrated by the improved rating of their care by service users with three-quarters of patients rating their care as good, very good or excellent. We are also pleased with the extra £30m the Government has announced for intensive care units, as this is another start in tackling a legacy of under-investment in the past."

"There are also several outstanding challenges ahead, such as investing in primary care mental health services, the improving the experience of black and minority ethnic patients, and tackling the poor state of many of the buildings. As highlighted in the recent Public Health White Paper it is also essential that all NHS organisations promote mental wellbeing and tackle the current negative stigma associated with mental illness."

"The NHS Confederation's mental health policy committee will use the National Director's report to influence their agenda for 2005 onwards. The Confederation will, through its membership, look collectively to ensure the integration of mental health services into primary care and to play its part in the social inclusion agenda and in the promotion of positive mental health.

Sandy concluded: "Despite recruiting more staff in mental health there is still a shortage and we should now be considering how we use the workforce better. We should be creating cross-sector teams which would give the user continuity of care, rather than the old-fashioned disjointed approaches to treatment."

ENDS

Notes for editors

1. The NHS Confederation represents the organisations that make up the NHS. Our members include the majority of NHS trusts, primary care trusts and health authorities in England; trusts and local health boards in Wales; NHS boards and special boards in Scotland; and health and social service trusts and boards in Northern Ireland.
2. Sandy Taylor is chair of the NHS Confederation's mental health committee and chief executive of Durham and Darlington Priority Services NHS Trust

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