No sign of NHS child mental health money, MHN says

The Mental Health Network (MHN) has claimed that ‘no significant investment’ has been made in psychiatric services for children despite government plans to reform financial provision.

The news comes after ministers promised an additional £143 million would be invested in mental health services this financial year. However, MHN has raised concerns that the funding has been used to support other NHS services.

Originally, £250 million was pledged to improve mental health services in March 2015’s Budget announcement. However, the Department of Health altered its commitment to £143 million,after it found providers did not have the financial capacity to offer the previous figure.

Nonetheless, the MHN has said they are yet to gain access to the promised amount.

Stephen Dalton, chief executive of the MHN which represents NHS providers, said: "Providers of mental health services and most importantly children and families are struggling to see the difference.

"It doesn't seem to have turned into posts on the front line. We are not hearing any reports of any significant investment at a local level around children's services. Indeed, some services are still experiencing cuts in services."

Dr Phil Moore, chairman of the NHS Clinical Commissioners Mental Health Commissioners Network, said: "Despite our commitment to better mental healthcare for young people, it has to be acknowledged that clinical commissioning groups (CCG) are dealing with increasingly financially challenging times and a myriad of competing demands on budgets.

"This, combined with the fact that children and young people's mental healthcare is in desperate need of heavy investment having historically been treated as a ‘cinderella service', is why we believe this is a rare case where funding should be ring-fenced."

An NHS England spokesman said: "As a society we must make sure the most vulnerable children get the very best care as quickly and simply as possible and that they are being offered the right services in the right places. But transformation will not happen overnight.

"Every CCG has worked with local partners including children and young people to deliver plans to improve access to effective services."