New strategy encouraged to boost mental health services

NHS England is putting together new guidance to encourage doctors to expand the mental and physical health services they offer by employing a mental health expert in their GP surgeries to work alongside the primary care team. The thought is that this will bring services together in one environment and closer to the community which will help to encourage more patients requiring psychological treatment to attend appointments. This they hope will help to diminish the stigma attached to mental health conditions felt by many patients, and enable them to better address the needs of their patients, especially those with long term conditions like diabetes and heart problems who suffer with such conditions as anxiety and depression. Dealing with mental health issues at the earliest stage of diagnosis can only be a positive thing and can reduce the pressure on the referral of those patients to hospitals. NHS England said: “Broadening the range of services for patients means local health services are better equipped to deal with patients’ physical and mental health needs”.

Claire Murdoch, NHS England’s national director for mental health, said: “Joining up talking therapy services in primary care settings is another big step forward for our patients and a key plank in putting mental health at the centre of the long-term plan for the NHS. We are on track to deliver 3,000 therapists in primary care, with over 800 in surgeries at the end of last year and this handy guidance should convince those practices that are yet to take the plunge of the benefits.”