“We look forward to contributing to the Government’s 10 Year Health Plan which must deliver an NHS fit for the future” says RCPsych President

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The Department of Health and Social Care has launched a public consultation which will inform its 10 Year Health Plan.

Responding to the announcement, Dr Lade Smith CBE, President of the Royal College of Psychiatrists, said:

“Psychiatry has been at the forefront of transforming models of patient care in the NHS for 50 years. We welcome this opportunity to inform the Government’s strategy and shape the future of mental healthcare.

“Mental health services went through a significant restructure from being predominantly hospital based to community based. We were also one of the first medical specialities to transition from analogue to digital, with electronic patient records now being the norm. Today, services are better designed to deliver care before people become seriously unwell.

“The College and its membership, including its lived experience advisors, are ready to provide an evidence-based blueprint that will help innovate services and ensure that we can take the next step forward. This will be critical if we are to address rising demand, with annual referrals to mental health services increasing from 5.5 million to 7 million in England since the pandemic.

“As with the rest of the NHS, mental health services have faced chronic underinvestment and workforce shortages. The Government’s current focus on public health and prevention is positive but it will only be effective if services are provided with the resources they need to deliver timely and compassionate care.

“We look forward to contributing to the Government’s 10 Year Health Plan which must deliver an NHS fit for the future.”