Responding on the UK Government's announcement that there is a plan to expand community mental health services in England, Professor Subodh Dave, President of the Royal College of Psychiatrists, said:
"We welcome the UK Government's recommitment to investing in mental health services in England through the expansion of neighbourhood mental health centres and dedicated mental health emergency departments. This has the potential to improve access to care, help people receive treatment closer to home and support critical early intervention before they become more unwell or experience a crisis.
"However, the success of these plans will depend not only on the level of investment, but on how effectively it is implemented. As these new services are developed, it will be important to build on past learnings, especially from the implementation of the Community Mental Health Framework. We know that transforming services requires more than just new infrastructure, but also clear accountability, strong local collaboration and – crucially – a focus on improving patients' experience of care.
"Strategic commissioning and system-wide leadership will be crucial if we are to move away from siloed ways of working. Without this, there is a risk that people will continue to be passed from service to service rather than receiving timely, coordinated support. If delivered well, these reforms could help create a more connected and responsive mental health system, ensuring people receive the right care, at the right time.
"For too many people, mental health services remain fragmented, with patients often navigating multiple assessments and disconnected pathways before receiving the support they need. New neighbourhood mental health centres, mental health emergency departments and same day emergency care pathways have the opportunity to help simplify that journey, while ensuring the quality of care they receive is not compromised. While we welcome the principle of open access, neighbourhood centres must have the ability to transfer patients to evidence-based pathways of care where appropriate. Their purpose must be to reduce duplication, improve coordination and provide more seamless access to support for patients, rather than creating additional barriers within an already complex system.
"It is also critical that mental health is fully integrated into the Government's neighbourhood health approach. The model must deliver for everyone, including people with severe mental illness, whose needs have too often been overlooked in the design and commissioning of community services. Achieving this will require effective collaboration between specialist mental health services, primary care, local authorities, housing, employment services and the voluntary sector in line with the Government's commitment to a cross-government mental health strategy for England."
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