Thousands of new mental health experts will be on hand to support people in their local GP practice amid record demand for services, the head of the NHS announced today.
Fully trained experts from local NHS trusts will offer people with severe mental health problems such as bipolar, psychosis or eating disorders, a consultation, treatment, peer support, or a referral to hospital teams without needing a GP appointment.
The new service, described by one patient as making her feel like “a different person” ensures people are offered appointments with mental experts which are up to three times longer than a standard GP appointment, meaning more time for their needs to be assessed.
The NHS is providing funding for two mental health practitioners for every group of GP practices in a local area, meaning up to 2,500 mental health experts will be providing additional support.
Introduction of the new roles will see primary care and mental health trusts working together to offer one single service to patients, while family doctors time will be freed up to focus on routine care.
Almost 500 mental health practitioners including community psychiatric nurses, clinical psychologists and mental health occupational therapists are already working in GP surgeries across England.
Demand for NHS mental health services has significantly increased following the pandemic – and the NHS is treating more children and young people than ever before, with over a fifth more children treated this year compared to before the NHS Long Term Plan.
The number of adults referred to community mental health services has also increased by nearly one fifth since the start of the pandemic.
NHS chief executive Amanda Pritchard said: “Giving people convenient care for mental ill health is a lifeline.
“NHS patients and their families know that better access to NHS mental health support in their community, including through their local GP, not only goes with the grain of how people like to seek help, but also helps with common conditions before they escalate into something even more serious or something that can result in a stay in hospital.
“Thousands more mental health experts working as part of family doctor teams, is a major boost for the NHS’ drive to integrate physical and mental health care and will not only mean more people get better care, but crucially will help hard-working GP teams to provide the best possible care for their patients”.
Claire Murdoch, NHS National Mental Health Director, said: “I am delighted to see family doctors working alongside their local mental health trust and ensuring that patients are offered a far more joined up care from a single service.
“Providing specialist mental health support at local family doctors surgeries is another key milestone in the journey to putting mental health on an equal footing with physical health, as the NHS works alongside Government to introduce new access standards for mental health patients”.
