Summary
This NHS England document offers planning guidance to assist commissioners in their planning with regard to how local communities and CCGs can achieve greater “parity of esteem” between physical and mental health. This document supplies evidence, case studies and a guide to managing, securing and evaluating services.
Reference
Achieving parity of esteem; transformative ideas for commissioners. London: NHS England, February 2014.
By Contrast…
Six mental health organisations in England have warned about NHS cuts being a false economy and potentially placing lives at risk. Mental health trusts are required to save nearly 20% more than hospitals from next year’s budgets. The organisations involved in drawing attention to these inconvenient facts are:
- The Mental Health Foundation.
- Rethink Mental Illness.
- Mind.
- The NHS Confederation’s Mental Health Network.
- The Centre for Mental Health.
- The Royal College of Psychiatrists.
A separate report from the mental health charity Mind has highlighted research from the London School of Economics which indicates that 30,000 people with mental health problems have lost social care support since 2005. One in three local authorities in England have halved the number of people with mental health problems receiving social care support, possibly related to a £90m shortfall in funding.
Reference
Howse, P. (2014). Mental health charities warn cuts ‘put lives at risk’. London: BBC News (Education and Family), March 12th 2014.
