Commissioners that miss mental health spending target will be held to account, says NHS England

Clinical commissioning groups must increase their spending on mental health faster than the overall growth in health spending

Health bodies that fail to meet mental health spending targets in England will be held to account, NHS leaders have pledged.

Only 85% of clinical commissioning groups (CCGs) are meeting a new requirement to increase mental health spending faster than overall growth in health spending, according to NHS England.

NHS England national director for mental health Claire Murdoch said that this proportion is not enough as she reminded CCGs that the requirement is ‘not an optional extra’.

In a letter sent to CCGs, Ms Murdoch, who is a registered mental health nurse, said that local health finances will face ‘significant scrutiny’ and health leaders must demonstrate that the standard is being met.

Where analysis suggests that any CCG is not on track to meet the mental health investment standard (MHIS), local health leaders will be asked to explain why.

Commitment

Ms Murdoch wrote: ‘The requirement to increase mental health spending faster than overall growth in health spending is not only a crucial enabler of high-quality patient care, but also a demonstration of the NHS’s commitment to putting mental and physical health on a level footing.

‘The overwhelming majority of CCGs – 85% – meet the MHIS, but nearly nine-in-10 is not enough.

‘I also want to emphasise to you that regardless of pressures, meeting the MHIS is not an optional extra, but something we are deeply committed to and expect every CCG to achieve.

‘Failing to meet the MHIS in 2018-19 would be unacceptable to us all.’

She added: ‘In most of the country, services are improving, money is getting through and more people are getting the care they need.

‘We need to continue to build momentum, with every single part of the country meeting their obligations to ensure one million more people get care by 2021.’

Investment standard

Commenting on the letter, Royal College of Psychiatrists president Wendy Burn said: ‘We are delighted that NHS England have confirmed their commitment to trying to ensure every commissioner meets the mental health investment standard and that those who look likely to fail will be taken to task.

‘The MHIS – which means that every commissioner in England must increase its mental health spending at least as much as the rise in its overall budget – must be met everywhere or regional variations in mental healthcare are likely to worsen.’

Professor Burn said 15% of commissioners are consistently failing to meet the standard.

‘This positive action from NHS England, which we have lobbied for, should help make sure patients get the care they need locally,’ she said.

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