This story was first published in digitalhealth.net
Brexit difficulties for mental health recruitment
The Mental Health Network has warned that one in 10 posts in specialist mental health services are currently vacant, with Brexit set to make recruitment more difficult.
In its Brexit and mental health briefing, the organisations warns that the two key areas which are likely to be impacted most are workforce and research, with current research into mental health being secured from EU programmes. Horizon 2020, the EU’s research and innovation programme which has so far seen UK organisations receive €3.2 billion since 2014, is making nearly €80 billion of funding available over seven years (2014–2020).
Sean Duggan, chief executive of the Mental Health Network, said: “Currently the health sector is a service under extreme pressure - at the moment one in 10 posts in specialist mental health services are vacant. We must ensure that the NHS continues to have a sustainable pipeline of staff in order to deliver services; if we’re unable to recruit personnel from EU countries in the same numbers as we have been able to then it could lead to intolerable strain. While we welcome the government’s commitment for an extra 21,000 mental health posts by 2020, it is vital that the sector can continue to recruit these much-needed staff from both EU and non-EU countries post-Brexit.
“Regionality is also an issue, for example, currently 19 per cent of psychiatry consultants working in the East of England are nationals from EU & EEA countries – imagine the effect on patients if we’re unable to continue this level of recruitment.
“Our members need reassurance that this funding gap will be closed. If the research is not continued the impact on patients a few years down the line will be immense. The two recent reports from Health Education England: Stepping Forward to 2020/21: Mental Health Workforce Plan for England and Facing the Facts, Shaping the Future – a draft health and care workforce strategy for England to 2027, set out the strategy for long-term workforce planning in the NHS. Implementing the strategies outlined in these reports is key to making sure that the sector remains able to recruit effectively.”
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