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Sean Duggan, the chief executive of the Mental Health Network, which is part of the NHS Confederation, responded to the Care Quality Commission’s State of care in mental health services 2014-17 report out today

“With improved awareness of mental health comes increased pressure on already stretched services and today’s CQC report makes for difficult reading. However it is important to recognise that this report covers three years of CQC inspections, with many pre-dating the hugely important work of the Mental Health Taskforce whose recommendations were published in 2016. The findings also highlight why the review of current mental health legislation is necessary and extremely timely in order to support staff and services to deliver safe and modern care.

“It is not all doom and gloom and there is much to celebrate from the achievements over the last year of the Five Year Forward View for Mental Health, with increased access to much needed psychological therapies and a significant focus on children and young people’s services.

“What we urgently need now is a strong and robust workforce fit for the future to help deliver the necessary transformation. We await the upcoming workforce strategy and continue to press the Government to invest appropriately in mental health services. Getting mental health services right will relieve pressure on other parts of the health system.”