College calls for Budget funding for mental health services at the end of a busy October
31 October, 2024
The past month has been incredibly productive so I wanted to share a slightly different type of update with you – one that provides a snapshot of the breadth and depth of all the work going on at the moment.
A big Budget
Yesterday the first ever female Chancellor of the Exchequer delivered the first Labour Budget for the UK Government in 14 years. The funding news for the NHS was positive but we have yet to hear how much of this will be put toward the day-to-day provision of mental health services.
Additionally, the Chancellor committed to providing specific funding for the provision of more hospital beds and the maintenance of the health estate. We would like to see this distributed fairly, particularly for mental health services, in those areas that need it most.
Find out more in our news article
Influencing to forge a brighter future for mental health services
October marked the first 100 days of the new Labour Government, and it is increasingly clear that the NHS is entering another period of substantial reform.
Over the past month I have been spending time focusing on influencing politicians and policy makers to ensure that mental healthcare is at the heart of any prevention agenda.
We will also be reiterating, at every opportunity, our call for a realistic plan to retain experienced clinicians in the NHS, in partnership with other medical Royal Colleges.
Developing policies using a mental health impact assessment
A significant amount of mental illness is linked to inequality, social injustice, environmental factors and other wider determinants, including poverty, that can only be resolved with joined-up thinking. Mental health is impacted by almost every aspect of government policy outside of health, from meeting climate goals, to supporting a robust immigration policy, increasing productivity and even air pollution targets.
It is essential that the potential mental health impacts of policy decisions are considered in a cross-Government mental health strategy.
During the main party conferences, and in meetings with NHSE stakeholders, I have been seeking a commitment to the use of a mental health risk assessment tool for policy makers.
Officials in Westminster, along with cross-party MPs and Peers, and NHSE leaders, have so far been very open to hearing how the College can support this with our clinical expertise and experience.
New College report on protecting the mental health of sanctuary seekers
The College has published a new report on the mental health impacts of the UK immigration legislation. Protecting the Mental Health of People Seeking Sanctuary in the UK’s Evolving Legislative Landscape sets out measures regarding how all relevant agencies and individuals, from the UK Government and NHS trusts right through to clinicians, can contribute to addressing the mental health needs of those seeking sanctuary in the UK.
Many sanctuary seekers leave their countries after witnessing, or being subjected to, some of the most devastating traumas that can be visited on a person, such as rape, forced imprisonment and torture.
As psychiatrists, we have a duty to champion the provision of equitable needs-based care for all and, as this report highlights, people seeking sanctuary require a specific focus. Failing to attend to their needs results in more illness. NHS mental health services must build their capacity in trauma-informed care for all, but it must also ensure that this vulnerable group of people is included and can access treatment.
The debate on Assisted Dying – share your views?
Earlier this month I held the first of my Presidential events for the RCPsych membership. The topic for discussion was assisted dying and I was astonished when we received over 1,500 registrations to join the debate online or in person.
The motion debated was ‘This House believes Assisted Dying/Assisted Suicide should not be available to people whose sole underlying condition is a mental illness.’
Speaking for the motion were Professor Patricia Casey and Professor Julian Hughes. Opposing the motion were Dr Kirsten Catthoor and Dr Erik Thys, both of whom work in Belgium, where assisted dying is already in place and includes mental health conditions. The discussion was Chaired by Denis Campbell, Health Policy Editor for The Guardian newspaper.
The audience voted on the motion before and after the debate, with the results being 68%-32% for the motion beforehand, and 62%-38% after the debate.
This is a hugely topical issue, with Private Members’ bills before the House of Lords and House of Commons for England and Wales and before Holyrood for Scotland.
For the first time ever, the College has a working group developing a position statement that will consider the subject of assisted dying and its implications for people with mental illness, intellectual disabilities, neurodevelopmental conditions, and people with dementia.
I would strongly encourage that you share your thoughts to ensure the report reflects the views of our membership. You have until Monday (4/11) to contribute.
Have your say on the Government’s 10 Year Health Plan for England
The Department of Health and Social Care has launched a public consultation which will inform its 10 Year Health Plan in England.
We know that Psychiatry has been at the forefront of transforming models of patient care in the NHS for 50 years – we have moved most of our care from hospitals to the community; we were the first to go digital and we have been focusing on prevention for some years now. We must share our learnings and expertise and show how mental healthcare can lead the way.
Until 20 November, the College will be collating members’ views for the consultation. You are welcome to send your thoughts, ideas and any material to your faculties and divisions for collated responses to inform our overarching submission.
Psychiatry is more competitive than ever
Earlier this month NHS England released the latest recruitment data for 2024 for England, Scotland, and Wales. This confirmed that we have achieved 100% fill rate for Core Psychiatry training across Great Britain. While there was an increase in filled posts in Scotland (12) and Wales (8) compared to 2023, England saw 53 fewer available posts.
In higher training (ST4), the fill rate for England rose to 78% (up from 74.9% in 2023), but Scotland and Wales saw declines with fewer filled posts than last year.
I’ve been very pleased to see that more medical students and foundation doctors are interested in pursuing a career in psychiatry. The College’s #ChoosePsychiatry campaign, which has recently launched for 2024, has helped to drive this interest.
However, it is vital that more is done to retain doctors in the profession. Greater access to higher training would help ensure we have a strong pipeline of consultants and safeguard the future of mental healthcare.
Forecasts for the expansion of the psychiatric workforce in the short, medium and longer term will help facilitate this work and should be included in the updated NHS Long Term Workforce Plan next year. These forecasts should be based on comprehensive and transparent modelling.
We have joined other Medical Royal Colleges, including RCGP, in calling on the Public Accounts Committee to re-open its inquiry into the NHS England Long Term Workforce Plan, based on significant concerns about its modelling.
Celebrities back #Choose Psychiatry campaign
Our annual Choose Psychiatry campaign was launched a few weeks ago with the backing of Ruby Wax, Jo Brand, Stephen Fry and Alastair Campbell. These high-profile individuals spoke of how psychiatrists helped them during their greatest time of need, and appealed to aspiring doctors to consider joining the profession.
RCPsych Awards
I hope you are all looking forward to the RCPsych Awards ceremony where we recognise the achievements of psychiatrists from across the UK. We'll be presenting the winners in a live streamed ceremony on Thursday 7 November, from 2-4:30pm.
We received a wide range of excellent nominations this year. Best of luck to all of our worthy finalists!
View the shortlist for each of the 18 categories and register to join the livestreamed event
And finally… last but by no means least, I would like to wish you all a very happy Diwali. I hope your lives are filled with light, joy and prosperity.
Blog Author
Dr Lade Smith CBE
President
Dr Shubulade (Lade) Smith was elected President in 2023. She holds this role until 2026 and leads the RCPsych on behalf of its members and associates.
Question Time with the Officers
Each month, our President Dr Lade Smith CBE is joined by one or more of the College’s Officers to respond to questions and feedback from members and affiliates.
This is your opportunity to put forward suggestions about to how to improve things in mental healthcare, ask about some of the initiatives being undertaken and decisions being made, and learn more about the College and what it does.