Rethink: GP survey underlines BMA warnings over NHS plans
People with mental illness could lose out as part of the biggest shake up of the NHS for a generation, warns mental health charity Rethink ahead of health secretary Andrew Lansley’s keynote speech at the Conservative party conference.
A survey of 500 GPs commissioned by the charity to investigate the views of clinicians, reveals that it is people with mental illness who are likely to be the worst affected by the proposals set out in Liberating the NHS: Equity and Excellence.
The GPs – who have close relationships with all patient groups – complained that even though mental health services are currently the most poorly resourced (58%), it is mental health services which are most likely to face budget cuts (31%).
Concern was also expressed over the proposal to make GPs responsible for commissioning mental health services. Over half of GPs (54%) said they found people with severe mental illness hardest to engage with, while more than four in ten (42%) said they lacked knowledge about specialist services for people with severe mental illnesses such as schizophrenia and bipolar disorder.
Paul Jenkins, chief executive of mental health charity Rethink, said: “Our survey makes it clear that people with mental illness could lose out as a result of the proposed reforms to the health service. Given that mental health services are already underresourced, further budget cuts could have a devastating impact on people with mental illness.
“It is also clear that GPs want and need extra training and assistance, should they become responsible for commissioning mental health services. More than six in ten want each GP consortium to have a mental health lead, and at least half require decent guidance on commissioning. We urge the government to recognise this, take the opportunity to make a real difference in mental health by raising awareness and improving training, and work with health professionals and the mental health sector to ensure that people with mental illness can receive the quality services to which they are entitled.”
Key findings:
. 58% of GPs say that mental health services already lack resources – only 15% say the same about sexual health
. a third of GPs (31%) say that mental health services are most at risk of cuts
. 42% of GPs say they lack knowledge about specialist services needed for people with severe mental illnesses such as schizophrenia and bipolar disorder
. more than six in ten (63%) want each GP consortium to have a mental health lead
. more than half of GPs (54%) said they found people with severe mental illness hardest to engage with
To read Rethink’s full report NHS Reform 2010: Making it work for mental health, for comment or further information, please call 020 7840 3146/ 07587 635874
Amy Edmunds
Senior Media Officer
Rethink
Tel: 020 7840 3146
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