NHS bodies told to boost mental health funds or face sanctions

[Northerner]

NHS bodies that put too little money into improving mental health care have been threatened with sanctions in a crackdown intended to ensure more cash reaches the frontline.

NHS England has written to all 207 clinical commissioning groups (CCGs) to warn that they must deliver on a key NHS-wide funding pledge in order to meet the rising demand for help.

Claire Murdoch, NHS England’s national mental health director, has ordered CCGs to ensure they boost spending on mental health by more than the size of their overall annual budget increase. CCGs are the local NHS bodies that hold the health budget for every area and pay hospital trusts to treat patients.

All CCGs must meet the mental health investment standard (MHIS) during the new NHS financial year, Murdoch said.

https://www.theguardian.com/society...th-provision-boost-spending-or-face-sanctions

 

[mikeyB]

Quite right too. Although mental health problems might be 20% of a GPs workload, this is not reflected in NHS spending. It seems a bit perverse blaming the CCGs, though, it’s years of government neglect. It’s been happening since the government of the day dreamed up Care in the Community.