Source · Select Committees · Public Accounts Committee
Recommendation 26
26
Accepted
Preventive mental health and public health services lack prioritisation and sufficient funding.
Conclusion
Previous government strategies have emphasised the importance of preventive services for mental health and wellbeing alongside treatment for mental illness. However, we, and many stakeholders, are concerned that preventive and public health services have not been given the same priority and focus as NHS mental health treatment services. From 2018–19 to 2022–23, the local authority public health grant had a real-terms reduction of 6% and in 2021–22, only 2% of total local authority spend on public health was on mental health.50 The Department and NHSE agreed on the important role of prevention and early intervention, and argued that “a fair amount of progress” has been made in promoting mental health over the last 10 to 15 years, but acknowledged that not all areas were fully mature in terms of preventive infrastructure.51
Government Response Summary
The government agrees and, through its Major Conditions Strategy, commits to implementing a new mental health and wellbeing impact assessment tool, outlining government's role in supporting employers, and increasing mental health support teams in schools and colleges. A final report for the strategy is due in early 2024.
Government Response
Accepted
HM Government
Accepted
6.1 The government agrees with the Committee’s recommendation Target implementation date: by spring 2024 6.2 The Major Conditions Strategy: case for change and our strategic framework was published on 14 August. This sets out the Department for Health and Social Care’s strategic approach to improving care for people living with six groups of conditions. As part of this, the department recognises the importance of mental ill-health as a major condition, as well as the importance of prevention, ensuring physical health needs of people with mental ill-health are addressed, and ensuring that mental health is included as a core part of how the other major conditions are treated. 6.3 To support this work, the department has set out multiple policies that can help to support mental health and wellbeing. These include the implementation of a new mental health and wellbeing impact assessment tool to support policy makers across government in considering and addressing the impacts of any new policies on mental health and wellbeing; outlining government’s role in supporting employers to improve the support they provide for the mental and physical health of themselves and their employees; and increasing the number of schools and colleges with an embedded mental health support team. 6.4 The final report will be published in early 2024 and will include consideration of how the right workforce may be secured. DHSC is working closely with NHS England, as part of the implementation of the NHS Long Term Workforce Plan, which included a commitment to grow the proportion of NHS staff working in mental health, primary and community care.