Patients Association calls for increased funding for mental health services

16 Feb 2016 12:37 PM

Katherine Murphy, Chief Executive of the Patients Association commented on calls for increased funding for mental health services:

“It is a disgrace that three-quarters of patients presenting with mental health problems are not receiving help. In particular, the number of young people who are suffering from mental health issues is incredibly worrying. The Patients Association continues to support the family of Avril Hart, who suffered from anorexia and died following a failure by a number of NHS services to properly support her after she started at university. More must be done at schools, colleges and universities to support these vulnerable young people. Additional funding must be used to recruit and train staff who can provide safe and expert care for vulnerable patients. 

The revelations at Southern Health NHS Foundation Trust have shown that drastic improvements need to be made in the investigation processes that mental health trusts currently employ. The huge rise in unexpected deaths and suicides across mental health trusts in England has shown the failure of trusts to learn from these tragic events. The family of Jo Deering and many others like them are still waiting for answers about the deaths of their loved ones. 

The Patients Association hopes that this announcement will spark more integrated and better equipped mental health services for patients across the country. While this renewed focus on mental health services in England is welcome, it is not the first time that such commitments have been made. For too long there has been a stigma around mental health and it is now time for this Government to achieve its commitment to bring true parity between mental and physical healthcare.”

Notes to Editors

The Patients Association is an independent national health and social care charity established over 52 years ago, which has a long history of campaigning to ensure that the voice of patients is heard within the UK Health and Social care system.

For further information please contact Matthew Tisi, Communications & Public Affairs Officer, on 020 8423 9111, or email matthew@patients-association.com or call 07779 004898.

Visit our website at www.patients-association.org.uk