Much needed cash is being diverted from mental health services - Barbara Keeley

Barbara Keeley MP, Labour’s Shadow Cabinet Minister for Mental Health and Social Care, commenting on reports from YoungMinds charity and NHS Providers, which show that funding for mental health is being used elsewhere, said:

“Jeremy Hunt pledged that these local health bodies would increase their investment in mental health services but it is now clear he has failed to meet that pledge. Much needed cash is being diverted from mental health services to acute hospitals.

“Tory Ministers are also failing to make sure that new funding promised for children’s mental health isn’t diverted to spend on other priorities. This money was intended to make sure that children’s mental health services were improved, not to backfill for cuts or to use for other priorities.

“Children and young people with mental ill health are being failed and the Tory Government is failing to ensure that people with mental illness get the same treatment as people with physical illness. Jeremy Hunt must now ensure urgent action is taken to meet the pledges he made on mental health services.”