December 2022
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This conference assessed the priorities for the future of mental health services in England.
With the Government’s mental health and wellbeing plan in development, at the time, delegates discussed next steps for care provision, key issues in delivering new mental health access standards, and the way forward for prevention and tackling inequality at the local level.
The conference was an opportunity to examine proposed reforms to mental health legislation, and discuss priorities and the future direction of policy - with the Our plan for patients policy statement emphasising mental health support, particularly for children, but with concern from some stakeholders in areas such as funding.
Overall, the agenda brought out latest thinking on priorities for:
- policy: the mental health and wellbeing plan - engagement with patient experiences - key areas for investment - aligning with wider inequality and levelling-up policy
- legislation: proposed reforms to the Mental Health Act and the Draft Mental Health Bill - prospects for supporting development in mental health services
- patient-centred care: the future for patient choice in care delivery - next steps following NICE guidance around treatment options for depression - impact on health outcomes
- Integrated Care Systems (ICSs): coordination of efforts to tackle mental health at the local level - sharing best practice - how population health methods can best be used to address inequality
- service delivery: progress in post-pandemic recovery - managing increased demand - funding, training, and recruitment required for delivering new access standards within healthcare services
- workforce: training and development - the impact of ICSs in creating local workforce plans - training for local, voluntary, and community partners
We are pleased to have beed able to include keynote sessions with Kathy Smethurst, Deputy Director for Mental Health Policy and Delivery, Department of Health and Social Care; Dr Jacqui Dyer, Vice Chair, Mental Health Taskforce; Sean Duggan, Chief Executive, Mental Health Network, NHS Confederation; Dr Sridevi Kalidindi, National Clinical Lead for GIRFT Mental Health Rehabilitation, NHS improvement; and Dr Peter Bloomfield, Head of Policy and Research, Future Care Capital.
The conference was an opportunity for stakeholders to consider the issues alongside key policy officials who attended from the DHSC; DfE; OLS; and The Scottish Government - as well as by parliamentary pass-holders from both Houses of Parliament.
