Today, the Government has published its plan to reduce NHS waiting lists for elective care by providing people with thousands of additional appointments. Elective care is considered to be pre-planned and non-urgent treatment.
Responding to the announcement, Dr Lade Smith CBE, President of the Royal College of Psychiatrists said:
“It’s positive to see the Government is prioritising the reduction of waiting lists to give people the care they need as soon as possible. However, it’s bitterly disappointing that mental health patients have not been afforded the same attention.
“When the Government came into power, they inherited a waiting list of 9.2 million elective referrals. It is unacceptable that only the 7.5 million now waiting for physical health care will benefit from the new Elective Reform Plan, while the forgotten 1.6 million mental health cases are left waiting for the same prioritisation.
“There is no reason why elective care shouldn’t cover both physical and mental health care moving forward.
“Mental illnesses can be treated effectively, particularly when they are identified early, but delays to care put people at risk of developing a more complex illness which can harm their long-term health and prevent them from being productive. Worryingly, the number of people waiting for mental health care has risen by 29% over the last two years, with some waiting for two years or more.
“While the Government inherited these long waiting lists, there is now an opportunity for them to ensure people with mental illness receive the timely care they deserve.
“Plans to reduce waiting times, provide treatment closer to home and enhance patient autonomy are all measures that would equally benefit people who have a mental illness. It is imperative that their needs are not overlooked, and funding is distributed fairly across these services.
“As set out in the King’s Speech – it’s time to ensure mental health is given the same attention as physical health. Only by ensuring mental health care is given the priority it deserves will we have an NHS that is fit for the 21st century.”
For further information, please contact:
- Email: press@rcpsych.ac.uk
- Twitter: @rcpsych
- Out-of-hours contact number: 07860 755896