Commenting on the government's announcement of better mental health support today, Saffron Cordery, interim chief executive of NHS Providers said:

"NHS leaders – from mental health trusts and beyond – welcome the publication of the draft bill on Mental Health Act reform. It's been a long time coming and is an important opportunity to implement reforms that will give service users greater autonomy and improve the quality of their treatment and care.

"The focus on tackling the injustices of race inequality in mental health practices and better meeting the needs of those with a learning disability and autistic people are particularly welcome.

"However we should be under no illusions that while the additional funding to support implementation is useful, mental health services are significantly understaffed and in desperate need of capital investment to shore up outdated buildings and infrastructures.

"Without a fully costed and funded long term workforce plan and without significant changes to the capital regime, NHS mental health services won't overcome the substantial shortfall in care for those who need it most – some of the most vulnerable people in our society."