Briefing / Summary of the NHS mental health implementation plan 2019/20 – 2023/24

The NHS long-term plan published in January 2019 set out a vision for the next ten years of the NHS. Further details of how these ambitions can be achieved are now being shared through a series of supporting plans and guidance. The HFMA is committed to producing summaries of these plans to support members.

The NHS mental health implementation plan 2019/20 – 2023/24 sets out how a £2.3bn local investment fund will be used to build upon the work of the Five-year forward view for mental health. It describes how the ambitions for mental health fit with the system planning approach and other sections of the NHS long term plan. Each ambition is considered in detail; it sets out the targets for the next five years; the funding that will be available to support each one; and the workforce necessary to achieve it.

The implementation plan expects systems to work in partnership with mental health providers to develop their five-year plans. It is also expected that local health systems will work jointly to develop and confirm clinical commissioning group mental health investment plans, including a lead mental health provider in the process.