The chief executive of the NHS, Simon Stevens, has warned that cancer and mental health care could deteriorate because ministers are not prepared to give the health service billions of extra funding in the forthcoming budget.
In response, Professor Wendy Burn, President of the Royal College of Psychiatrists, said:
"For as long as I can remember Mental Health services have been underfunded compared to those for the physically ill. Now at last society and politicians understand that mental illness is every bit as devastating and deserving as physical illness and the Government has committed itself to plans for improvement of care.
"Today I was deeply disappointed to hear from Simon Stevens that those plans are in jeopardy due to overall lack of funding for the NHS. I call on the Government to keep its promises and make the funding available to create the high-quality mental health services our patients need."
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