A report recently published by NHS England outlining the progress made in the first year of the Five Year Forward View for Mental Health sets out which areas are beginning to see improved access to care, and outlines examples of good local practice.
Implementing the Five Year Forward View for Mental Health – One Year On also, however, recognises that ‘there is more to do to make a reality of the aspirations for transformation in mental health services’.
The Mental Health Network of the NHS Confederation said: “The report concludes by outlining that the infrastructure needed to sustain change has been put in place, and in many areas people who use services are beginning to feel the benefits. It cautions that this is a long-term programme which goes beyond 2020/21, and that further work will be needed beyond the first five years to continue to expand transformation of mental health services and meet the needs of the whole population. “Finally, it acknowledges the hard work of staff, adding that ‘one year on, there is clear momentum behind this programme nationally and locally; the challenge now is to maintain and build on this to achieve next year and beyond’.”
Highlights include:
- Over 120,000 more people are expected to receive mental health care and treatment in priority services in 2016/17.
- The Mental Health Investment Standard is planned to be met across England in 2017/18 and 2018/19.
- The first national access standards for mental health treatment have come into effect – with the waiting time targets met.
- A new Mental Health Dashboard has been launched ‘to provide unprecedented transparency of performance against key indicators’.
- The first comprehensive ‘all-age mental health workforce strategy’ has been co-produced for publication this month.