The NHS is the envy of the world, but our mental health service is
not. Waiting times are being missed, people are not being referred
for the treatment they need, and often action is taken only when at
‘crisis’ point, or too late.
Approximately one in four people in the UK will experience a mental
health problem each year. For too many, treatment is a postcode
lottery; with waiting times for psychological therapy varying from
16 days in Waltham Forest, to 176 days in Leicester.
One in 10 consultant psychiatric roles are unfilled, and people
with severe mental illness die on average 15-20 years earlier than
the rest of the general population. Urgent action is needed to
provide people with the support they need and comparative care to
if they were suffering from a severe physical illness.
Liberal Democrats will give the NHS and social care services the
necessary funding by putting a penny in the pound on income tax.
Ringfencing funding for mental health will give a cash injection of
£11bn fund over the next Parliament putting more investment into
services such as:
- child and adolescent mental
health,
- matching waiting time standards to
those in physical health,
- and expanding our mental health
workforce
Making mental health services accessible to all is fundamental,
and no one should be forced to travel unreasonable distances away
from home. By prioritising young people coming out of care, and
supporting students from school through to colleges and
universities, it is possible to ensure that no one will have to
travel out of area for all but the most specialist mental health
services.
Providing real parity between mental and physical health care is
critical. We want to make prescriptions for people with chronic
mental health conditions available for free on the NHS, as is the
case for conditions such as cancer and diabetes.
On the party’s plans to overhaul mental health services in
the UK, Liberal Democrat shadow Health Secretary said:
“Our country is in the grip of a mental health crisis, with more
and more people desperately seeking support, and being let down
by the underfunded services on offer.
“Liberal Democrats want to achieve real equality between mental
and physical health and have announced ambitious plans to do so.
Focusing on our country’s young people, and those who have had a
difficult start in life, will provide a solid framework to
improving the prospects of those with severe mental ill-health
for generations to come.
“Drastically reducing waiting times, by providing proper funding
to our services will ensure that no one has to travel long
distances to access treatment. Removing prescription costs for
those with chronic mental health conditions, shows how seriously
we as a party take mental health.
“Liberal Democrats want to build a brighter future and giving our
population the support that it needs to do that is at the top of
our agenda. We want to break down the barriers of stigma and
shame, which leave those suffering, alienated and isolated, and
we want to make the UK a world leader in keeping our nation well
with our push for greater emphasis on wellbeing.”
ENDS
Notes to Editors:
The Liberal Democrats will put 1p on income tax from April 2020,
with the revenue ringfenced for the NHS and social care.
This is forecast to raise £35.1 billion over the next five years,
Liberal Democrats will ringfence £11.2 billion of that money for
mental health services, over 30% of money raised.
