MH investment push welcomed
CCGs must meet the standard –which requires clinical commissioning groups to increase investment in mental health services in line with their overall increase in allocation each year – or potentially face sanctions.
In a letter, the commissioning body said 85% of CCGs currently meet the standard, but ‘nearly nine in 10 is not enough’. If a CCG is not on track to comply, they will receive a call from NHS England’s mental health unit seeking an assurance this will be rectified, it added.
Sean Duggan, chief executive of the Mental Health Network, which is part of the NHS Confederation, said: ‘Access to well-funded, high-quality services should not be determined by where you live, which is why we welcome NHS England’s move to ensure that all areas receive essential funding for mental health services.’
He added that while the standard was met both nationally and regionally in 2016/17, there was still variation around the country, with around 15% of CCGs not reaching the mental health investment standard.
‘We appreciate that decisions around funding are never easy for commissioners, but it is crucial that, as promised, mental health services are given parity to physical health services.’
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