03 Sep 2007
Commenting on the Healthcare Commission's survey of community mental health services, Steve Shrubb, the Director of the NHS Confederation's Mental Health Network which represents the majority of mental health trusts, said:
"It is excellent news that survey reveals over three quarters of community mental health service users rating their care as 'good', 'very good' or 'excellent'. This is a credit to the hard work of NHS staff at all levels in mental health trusts."
"However, as leaders in the provision of mental health care we must also recognise that problems still exist. As the Healthcare Commission's report demonstrates, there are still concerning gaps in the provision of counselling and out-of-hours crisis support for service users. This is an area that mental health trusts are working hard to address and they will be looking closely at the Commission's survey results to improve provision where gaps do exist.
"It is also clear that we must all do more in the health community to help people who suffer from mental illness to retain and return to work where appropriate. There is clear evidence that being in work can improve health - particularly mental health - and that being out of work can exacerbate poor health. Indeed, 40 per cent of the total number of Incapacity Benefit claimants suffers from mental illness.
"As service providers, we recognise that we must do more to address this problem, but we also need to look at the very real problems of stigma and discrimination people with mental health problems face both in work and in society at large."
The Mental Health Network represents the majority of mental health trusts. It was launched in spring 2007 to provide a distinct voice for providers of NHS mental health services.
The NHS Confederation represents more than 95% of the organisations that make up the NHS. Its members include the majority of NHS acute trusts, ambulance trusts, foundation trusts, mental health trusts, primary care trusts, special health authorities and strategic health authorities in England; trusts and local health boards in Wales; and health and social service trusts and boards in Northern Ireland.
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Last reviewed 3 Sep 2007