More government delays as Conservatives fail to prioritise mental health

In yet another delay to important policy, it is rumoured that reforms to the Mental Health Act will not be fully implemented until 2030/31 despite having made the announcements in 2017. An independent review in December 2018 made 154 recommendations to urgently improve the service.

A National Audit Office study has since found that:

• An estimated 8 million people with mental health needs are not in contact with NHS services.
• There are 1.2 million people waiting for help from community-based mental health services.
• While the mental health workforce grew by 22% between 2016-17 and 2021-22, the NHS recorded a 44% increase in referrals over the same period.
• In 2021-22, 13% of mental health staff - 17,000 people - quit.

Portfolio Holder for Adult's Services Councillor Dean Crofts said "Mental health services across the country have been consistently underfunded. The independent review gave the government an opportunity to find solutions to improve how adults and children are treated across this country and save lives. Instead, the government are failing to prioritise this crisis and dragging their feet.

"This news will be received as another blow to residents who rely on the health and care sector after we heard that the cap on social care costs will be delayed until late 2025. The government need to take urgent action to fix this struggling sector. Without this action, more adults and children are going to be put at risk and the NHS and local authorities will be put under even more strain."

Currently councils are having to fill the gaps in NHS provision. Some are struggling to find the appropriate support needed for residents dealing with severe mental health problems. When much needed support is found, local authorities are often having to spend tens of thousands of pounds a week on private care.