Mental Health

17.11.16

‘National scandal’ as some CCGs spending as low as £2 per child

Some CCGs are spending negligible amounts per person on children and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS) despite a surge in youth mental illness, the Royal College of Psychiatrists (RCPsych) has found.

The college has claimed that the small sums being spent by CCGs are “a national scandal” when NHS mental health services are currently being used by at least 234,000 young people – with the figure estimated to be much higher, because almost half of trusts haven’t yet disclosed how many under-18 patients they have.

Research undertaken by RCPsych into CCGs’ spending plans has found that Luton CCG is spending the least amount of money per under-18 in its area this year – just £2.01.

“It is a national scandal that opportunities to prevent mental illness from occurring in childhood are being missed because of unacceptably low investment,” said Prof Sir Simon Wessely, the president of the RCPsych.

“Our analysis shows that in many parts of the country, the proportion of money that NHS clinical commissioning groups are planning to spend on the mental health of our children and young people is negligible.”

Other CCGs spending small amounts on CAMHS include the three London boroughs of Enfield (£2.33), Tower Hamlets (£4.45) and Ealing (£6.39), as well as North Somerset (£5.89). Ten CCGs are spending less than £10 per head, while 25 will spend just £25 or less. In contrast, Birmingham South and Central CCG has allocated the most of any of England’s 209 CCGs to CAMHS – a total of £135.85 per child.

Exam stress, body image issues and the negative impact of social media are thought to be among the key factors behind the rise in psychological and psychiatric illness in children.  

Luciana Berger MP, president of the Labour campaign for mental health and former shadow mental health minister, called the sums spent by CCGs “disgracefully low” in the context of the sharp rise in need.

“This is yet further evidence of the gap between Jeremy Hunt’s continued promises for increased funding and the reality on the ground for our young people’s mental health services,” she said.

But NHS England’s national director for mental health, Claire Murdoch, argued that the NHS was putting more money into CAMHS services than ever before, with an additional £1.4bn invested nationally, and CCGs increasing their mental health spending by 8.4% last year. However, she acknowledged that there was “variation around the country” in how much was invested.

“Improving mental health for children and young people is an absolute priority for the NHS, and councils, third sector organisations, schools and social care all have a role to play in this,” Murdoch added.

“The additional £1.4bn invested last year is helping us to make progress on our ambition to treat 70,000 more children and young people each year by 2021.”

Earlier this week, the Independent Commission on Children and Young People’s Mental Health argued that the £250m a year promised by the government for CAMHS during this Parliament has not yet reached the frontline, with only £75m directly distributed to CCGs in the first year.

Another £119m was given to CCGs for this financial year but this was not specifically ring-fenced for CAMHS, leaving open the possibility that funding would be diverted to other priorities.

The NSPCC lamented the wide variation of sums put by CCGs into CAMHS, referring to the situation as a “postcode lottery”.

“It’s really concerning that some areas of the country will only spend a fraction on mental health services for children and young people compared to what others will spend elsewhere,” an NSPCC spokesperson said.

“It should go without saying that children and young people should be able to get proper support for mental health conditions regardless of where they live.”

Have you got a story to tell? Would you like to become an NHE columnist? If so, click here.

Comments

There are no comments. Why not be the first?

Add your comment

national health executive tv

more videos >

latest healthcare news

New agreement reached to benefit NHS junior doctors

10/09/2020New agreement reached to benefit NHS junior doctors

Junior doctors in the NHS will now also be able to undertake their training in independent hospitals after a new agreement was reached between in... more >
NHS capability for advanced therapy boosted by further investment

10/09/2020NHS capability for advanced therapy boosted by further investment

An additional £9.5m funding boost has been awarded by the UK Government into the Advanced Therapy Treatment Centre (ATTC) network. Est... more >
Identification of Covid-19 risk groups to help guide treatment

10/09/2020Identification of Covid-19 risk groups to help guide treatment

Appropriate treatment pathways for coronavirus patients admitted to hospital are beginning to be refined after research data showed people w... more >

editor's comment

26/06/2020Adapting and Innovating

Matt Roberts, National Health Executive Editorial Lead. NHE May/June 2020 Edition We’ve been through so much as a health sector and a society in recent months with coronavirus and nothing can take away from the loss and difficulties that we’ve faced but it vital we also don’t disregard the amazing efforts we’ve witnessed. Staff have gone above and beyond, whole hospitals and trusts have flexed virtually at w... read more >

last word

Haseeb Ahmad: ‘We all have a role to play in getting innovations quicker’

Haseeb Ahmad: ‘We all have a role to play in getting innovations quicker’

Haseeb Ahmad, president of the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry (ABPI), sits down with National Health Executive as part of our Last Word Q&A series. Would you talk us th... more > more last word articles >

the scalpel's daily blog

Covid-19 can signal a new deal with the public on health

28/08/2020Covid-19 can signal a new deal with the public on health

Danny Mortimer, Chief Executive, NHS Employers & Deputy Chief Executive, NHS Confederation The common enemy of coronavirus united the public side by side with the NHS in a way that many had not seen in their lifetimes and for others evoked war-time memories. It was an image of defiance personified by the unforgettable N... more >
read more blog posts from 'the scalpel' >

comment

NHS England dementia director prescribes rugby for mental health and dementia patients

23/09/2019NHS England dementia director prescribes rugby for mental health and dementia patients

Reason to celebrate as NHS says watching rugby can be good for your mental health and wellbeing. As the best rugby players in the world repr... more >
Peter Kyle MP: It’s time to say thank you this Public Service Day

21/06/2019Peter Kyle MP: It’s time to say thank you this Public Service Day

Taking time to say thank you is one of the hidden pillars of a society. Being on the receiving end of some “thanks” can make communit... more >
Nurses named as least-appreciated public sector workers

13/06/2019Nurses named as least-appreciated public sector workers

Nurses have been named as the most under-appreciated public sector professionals as new research reveals how shockingly under-vauled our NHS, edu... more >
Creating the Cardigan integrated care centre

10/06/2019Creating the Cardigan integrated care centre

Peter Skitt, county director and commissioner for Ceredigion Hywel Dda University Health Board, looks ahead to the new integrated care centre bei... more >

interviews

Matt Hancock says GP recruitment is on the rise to support ‘bedrock of the NHS’

24/10/2019Matt Hancock says GP recruitment is on the rise to support ‘bedrock of the NHS’

Today, speaking at the Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP) annual conference, Matt Hancock highlighted what he believes to be the three... more >
NHS dreams come true for Teesside domestic

17/09/2019NHS dreams come true for Teesside domestic

Over 20 years ago, a Teesside hospital cleaner put down her mop and took steps towards her midwifery dreams. Lisa Payne has been delivering ... more >
How can winter pressures be dealt with? Introduce a National Social Care Service, RCP president suggests

24/10/2018How can winter pressures be dealt with? Introduce a National Social Care Service, RCP president suggests

A dedicated national social care service could be a potential solution to surging demand burdening acute health providers over the winter months,... more >
RCP president on new Liverpool college building: ‘This will be a hub for clinicians in the north’

24/10/2018RCP president on new Liverpool college building: ‘This will be a hub for clinicians in the north’

The president of the Royal College of Physicians (RCP) has told NHE that the college’s new headquarters based in Liverpool will become a hu... more >
Duncan Selbie: A step on the journey to population health

24/01/2018Duncan Selbie: A step on the journey to population health

The NHS plays a part in the country’s wellness – but it’s far from being all that matters. Duncan Selbie, chief executive of Pu... more >

health service focus

View all News