Cygnet Health Care Respond to Mental Health Report

The National Audit Office has published a report on progress in improving mental health services in England. The report focuses on the implementation of NHS commitments as set out in the Five Year Forward View for Mental Health (July 2016); Stepping forward to 2020/21: The mental health workforce plan for England (July 2017); and The NHS Long Term Plan (January 2019). It examines whether the government has achieved value for money in its efforts to date to expand and improve NHS-funded mental health services.

Cygnet Health Care CEO Dr Tony Romero has offered his thoughts on the report findings.

“It is not surprising to hear that the number of people treated by NHS mental health services has increased. We know Covid-19 has amplified the challenge facing the nation’s mental health and the impact will be felt for many years to come.

Whilst the report does highlight the progress that has been made to transform mental health services, particularly with the right investment, we know that ongoing challenges remain.

I, like many others, am concerned about the sustained pressure on the NHS mental health services and its stretched capacity in the face of growing demand. A situation that we know is compounded by ongoing staff shortages in the sector.

I have long championed the importance of future-proofing the workforce by motivating, developing and rewarding staff. I believe the independent sector can support the NHS to optimise its use of flexible staffing. Sector partners utilising region-wide staff banks would help ensure good standards of staffing as well as providing training and development opportunities.

I welcome the recommendations that DHSC and NHSE should publish a longer-term mental health workforce recruitment and retention strategy and costed plan, as well as a detailed statement of what achieving full ‘parity of esteem’ between mental and physical health services encompasses.

Much needed emphasis should be given to prevention, as well as enhancing the availability of mental health support through expansion and transformation of mental health services. We need to encourage and educate people to take good care of their mental health on a day-to-day basis.

For individuals facing mental health struggles, it is absolutely critical to receive the right care at the right time. It has always been my belief that we can have the greatest impact if the NHS and independent sector work together to tackle the nationwide mental health crisis.”