Mind responds to Pulse magazine story on cuts

Vicki Nash, Head of Policy and Campaigns at Mind, said: “The Five Year Forward View for Mental Health comes with a commitment by the NHS to spend £1billion more on mental health services by 2020-21. The NHS has made it absolutely clear that CCGs are to increase spend on mental health services, which have been underfunded for decades and which have been cut more severely than the acute sector in recent years. It’s good to see that most CCGs are increasing spend, but hugely disappointing that some CCGs are not playing their part in ensuring this money reaches the frontline. Every CCG should be making mental health an urgent priority and improving services so that people with mental health problems get the services and support they need to recover and stay well. And it needs to be made much more clear how CCGs who fail to meet their obligations are held to account.”