The King’s Fund responds to the latest NHS Providers report
The King’s Fund has responded to the new NHS Providers report, The State of the NHS Provider Sector.
Helen Gilburt, Fellow in Health Policy at The King’s Fund, said: ‘This report yet again raises concerns around how good intentions on mental health are often not translating into better services on the ground. The NHS is under severe financial pressure, but sacrificing funding for mental health to relieve other parts of the system is at odds with the commitment to parity of esteem between mental and physical health.
‘Mental health services must be at the heart of ambitions to transform the NHS to make sure it can meet future need. NHS organisations must be held to account if they fail to meet commitments to ensure funding reaches the front line. It is also vital that sustainability and transformation plans have a sufficient focus on mental health.
‘Without this, it is difficult to see how the political rhetoric around parity of esteem for mental health will be matched by the kind of high-quality mental health services that people need.’
Notes to editors:
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The King’s Fund is an independent charity working to improve health and care in England. They help to shape policy and practice through research and analysis; develop individuals, teams and organisations; promote understanding of the health and social care system; and bring people together to learn, share knowledge and debate. Our vision is that the best possible health and care is available to all.
