Mental health sector gives mixed response to £1.3 billion plan for better services

‘Mental health campaign groups have welcomed a government plan to roll back years of cuts to mental health services that have left the system with “dangerously high” bed occupancy rates, waiting times and low staff retention. But the Royal College of Nursing has warned that the government’s flagship mental health proposals “appear not to add up”.
The announcement of the government’s NHS expansion plan for mental health services puts flesh on the bones of a pledge announced by Theresa May seven months ago, when the prime minister promised to tackle the “burning injustice of mental illness”.
Health secretary Jeremy Hunt said 21,000 new posts would be created under the £1.3bn plan – with more trained nurses, therapists, psychiatrists, peer support workers and other mental health professionals. A major drive to retrain and retain mental health staff would be put into place, he said.’
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