BPS response to Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s New Year speech

Sarb Bajwa, Chief Executive of the British Psychological Society, said:

 "We welcome the Prime Minister's focus on cutting NHS waiting lists and commitment to supporting the NHS to deliver the high quality service and care patients deserve. We agree – something does need to change.

"Growing waiting lists and backlogs of people waiting for treatment continue to place unprecedented and unsustainable pressure on psychology professionals and colleagues across health and care.

"This pressure will not be alleviated without addressing the workforce crisis in the NHS. Within mental health services it is starkly apparent that there simply are not enough professionals in order for services to meet soaring demand, and those who are there face unmanageable workloads and pressure. 

"According to the government's own plans, the psychological professions in England need to expand by 60 per cent on 2019 levels by 2024. In real terms, this means 10,640 full-time equivalent psychological professionals must be added to the workforce without delay, to help reduce waiting lists and provide NHS services fit for the future.

"We urge the Prime Minister to recognise the crisis that the NHS, its staff and patients are facing and provide the funding necessary to deliver on the NHS long term plan for the workforce.

"We also strongly urge him to deliver on continued ring-fenced funding for NHS Staff Mental Health and Wellbeing Hubs, which provide staff with a vital lifeline when they need it the most, and are proven to support staff retention."