Extra funding for mental health needed to cope with demand

Responding to the CQC’s survey of community mental health service experiences, Sean Duggan, chief executive of the Mental Health Network, which is part of the NHS Confederation, said:

“We are concerned by some of the findings in this report which at least allow us to pinpoint where improvement is needed at a time when demand for crisis care has increased considerably in recent months.

“This should not overshadow the fact that the majority of people needing support for their mental health receive consistently safe and high quality care. Demand for mental health services is expected to rise by 11% over the next three years, and our members have been working hard to deliver high quality care in exceptional circumstances.

“Ahead of the Spending Review, our members have been clear that additional funding is required to cope with increased demand. This is especially important for community services. The Health Foundation’s extensive modelling shows that mental health services will need over £1bn of additional funding per year to meet overall increased demand. So the £500m expected excluding capital investment in the Spending Review should have significant impact. We hope the Chancellor takes the opportunity to improve services for those in crisis.”