BPS responds to government's 10 Year Health Plan

Responding to the government's new 10 Year Health Plan, President of the British Psychological Society Dr Roman Raczka said: 

"It is encouraging to see the government's renewed focus on prevention and early intervention in its aspirations for the NHS. A commitment to bringing mental health support to the doorsteps of patients through the proposed new Neighbourhood Health Services is a welcome move. This has the potential to help people to access support as early as possible and before they reach crisis point. 

"Psychologists and the wider psychological workforce have the potential in improving patient outcomes in this regard. Psychologists already work across the health and care system, including in the community. In doing so, they help people manage the psychological and emotional aspects of health and illness, promote healthier lifestyles and support people to improve their physical and mental health. We await to see the detail about what role psychologists may have in Neighbourhood Health Services. 

"Potentially having additional psychological support in the community would be a positive move but this can only be effective if you have a large enough workforce to meet demand. The recruitment of nearly 7,000 mental health workers since last July is a positive step in the right direction but there is still much more work to be done. With more than two million people on NHS waiting lists for mental health support in England alone, it is imperative the government prioritises expanding the mental health workforce as quickly as possible."