BPS responds to Wes Streeting's Labour Conference speech

Responding to the speech made by Health and Social Care Secretary Wes Streeting MP at the Labour Party Conference, the President of the British Psychological Society Dr Roman Raczka said: 

"We welcome the government's aspirations to improve the NHS and agree that without action on prevention, the NHS risks being overwhelmed. Improving the mental health of the NHS workforce and the nation will be vital to achieving this in the coming years. This is the ideal time for the government to seize this opportunity and prioritise the mental health of patients and the staff who treat them.  

"Lord Darzi's review was clear that there has been a detrimental impact on the psychological wellbeing of NHS staff since the pandemic and its aftermath. Without the workforce, there is no NHS, and we must give them the support they need and deserve. With this in mind, we look forward to hearing the outcome of the NHS England review of staff mental health and wellbeing. 

"The NHS can only thrive, and patients can only access the high-quality services and care they need, if we have a 'well' workforce. Therefore, improving staff and patient mental health and wellbeing must be a core aim. We look forward to working with the government in bringing this to fruition."