PCN and mental health service collaboration must increase

A new briefing by the NHS Confederation’s PCN Network and Mental Health Network has said that joint working between primary care networks and providers of mental health services must accelerate in the coronavirus aftermath.

If the NHS is to help the huge increase in the number of people needing support for their mental health in the coming months and years, NHS Confederation says that primary, secondary, community and voluntary sectors must work better as a system.

Early modelling suggests half a million more people may need support, with depression being the most common condition.

The briefing outlines where such opportunities may lie and possible approaches mental health providers and primary care networks could take to improve partnership working. It says better partnership working will not only help to meet rising demand in the short-term but also ultimately improve care for patients with a mental health condition in the long-term.

Sean Duggan, chief executive of the Mental Health Network, said: “We know there is a variation in relationships between primary and secondary services across the country. Yet we also know that where there are strong links and mutual trust there is flexibility, improved step-down and preventative support and, crucially, better outcomes for the people that need support for their mental health, which is the most important thing of all.”

Ruth Rankine, PCN Network director, said: “The impact of Covid-19 on the mental health of the population will be felt for a long time after the physical health crisis subsides. If ever there was a time to work together as a system - across primary, secondary, community and voluntary sectors - it is now.”