Commitment to children’s mental health services must be priority for NHS plan

10 October 2018

 

 

Responding to the National Audit Office report on improving children and young people’s mental health services, the deputy chief executive of NHS Providers, Saffron Cordery, said: 

“The National Audit Office (NAO) report is an important assessment of the government’s progress towards bridging the divide between physical and mental health services for children and young people. It is an important reminder that we need to turn our words into actions on children’s mental health.

“The NAO’s findings show that the original plans have not been supported with enough planning, oversight and frontline funding to ensure that children and young people can access the mental health services they need.

The NAO’s findings show that the original plans have not been supported with enough planning, oversight and frontline funding to ensure that children and young people can access the mental health services they need.

Saffron Cordery    

“We know that demand has risen at the same time as cash-strapped commissioners and local authorities have reduced their funding for early intervention services. This only causes more children to fall into crisis before they receive help.

“The NAO’s recommendations reinforce the need for cross-government commitment to children’s mental health services as a key priority of the NHS long-term plan.”