01.05.13
Closing the gap between mental and physical health
A new briefing paper examines what the NHS Mandate means for mental health services and their users. Published by the Centre for Mental Health, the paper also identifies areas for improvement and shows how a stronger focus on support for mental health can improve physical health.
It outlines key actions for NHS England and CCGs, including expanding IAPT services, addressing access and waiting times and commissioning integrated support for people with co-existing physical and mental health conditions.
Centre for Mental Health chief executive Sean Duggan said: “The NHS mandate sets out in clear terms what is needed from the NHS to deliver improvements in the way we treat long-term conditions and tackle health inequalities. It also sets out clear actions for NHS England and clinical commissioning groups towards the government’s aim of achieving ‘parity of esteem’ between mental and physical health.
“Almost one third of people with a long-term physical illness have a co-occurring mental health condition. And people with poor mental health are much more likely to die earlier from serious illnesses such as heart disease and cancer. By taking mental health seriously across the NHS we can ensure that people get better quicker, live longer and have a good quality of life.
“The NHS Mandate sets out a series of priorities for the commissioning of mental health care. This will enable clinical commissioning groups to focus on closing the gap between mental and physical health at a local level, so that those with a mental health condition have the same entitlement to treatment and choice as someone with a physical illness.”
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