Legal News

Mental health charity Mind has welcomed the government’s commitment to boosting the number of mental health workers, in a plan which will give mental health parity with physical health in the NHS.

Over the next five years, an estimated 21,000 health workers will be recruited to NHS mental health services, including crisis care and talking therapies.

The plan put together by Health Education England and was announced by the Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt on Monday.

It is hoped that the recruitment of thousands of additional nurses, therapists and consultants over the next five years will benefit an extra one million people who will need support from mental health services by 2020-2021.

Chief Executive of Mind, Paul Farmer, said:

“This plan is welcome: the success of the Five Year Forward View for Mental Health – the NHS’ plan for improving mental health services between now and 2021 – depends heavily on the capacity and quality of the workforce.

“The support of a great nurse, doctor, psychologist or social worker can make all the difference to people’s lives.

“A damaging lack of foresight in workforce planning in the past has led us to where we are now, with a significant gulf between what’s in place and what’s needed to deliver good quality care.“

Mr Farmer said that cuts to mental health services in recent years had led directly to posts being axed – which had taken a toll on morale among mental health staff. Valued staff had left mental health in frustration or burn out, said Mr Farmer.

“The scale of the challenge is clear, so we welcome the measures announced in this plan to attract people back to mental health and keep hold of them – it’s also good to see recognition of the importance of the multidisciplinary nature of mental health staff, such as peer support workers,” he added.

“Mental health services staff do a hugely important job and can make a real difference to the experiences of people accessing mental health services.

“It’s important to see a focus on the mental wellbeing of the workforce – not least because only when staff are well supported by their employer can they do their best.

“Looking after staff also helps retain good people and improve the stability of the workforce in the long run.”

Mr Farmer said that, although the plan will take mental health services to 2021, a longer-term, further reaching strategy to build NHS mental health services for the future was needed, in order to cope with inevitable rising demand – and to provide better integration of mental and physical health services.

“Such a strategy needs to include staff working in independent and voluntary sector services and social care – as well as a commitment to developing a level of understanding of mental health for all frontline NHS staff working in non-mental health services.

“This will be particularly important in primary care – where currently less than half of trainee GPs undertake a training placement in a mental health setting.

“Mind is calling for all GPs and practice nurses to receive structured mental health training that is comprehensive, relevant and supports their ongoing development.”

Duncan Lewis Mental Health Solicitors

Duncan Lewis is the UK’s largest provider of Legal Aid mental health services and can advise mental health patients on a wide range of issues – including access to NHS mental health services and detention under the Mental Health Act.

Duncan Lewis mental health solicitors regularly visit NHS hospitals to advise on mental health law – and are available across England and Wales at short notice for hospital and police station appointments.

In some cases, Duncan Lewis mental health solicitors may be able to advise the nearest relative or carer of a mental health patient on a range of issues, including initiating treatment reviews where appropriate.

For expert legal advice on mental health law, call the Duncan Lewis Mental Health Solicitors Helpline on 020 3114 1124.