CUMBRIAN MP SLAMS SCRAPPING OF 10-YEAR MENTAL HEALTH PLAN

Today, Cumbrian MP Tim Farron has written to the Health Secretary, Steve Barclay, to express his disappointment about the proposed scrapping of the 10-year mental health plan.

Tim has questioned this move for multiple reasons but especially because the alternative plan proposed by the Health Secretary could see mental health side-lined and not treated with the urgency and importance it deserves.

In his letter to the Minister "The new 'Major Conditions Strategy' does not recognise the socioeconomic causes of mental health issues such as poor housing, low incomes, and unstable employment. This is a narrow-minded approach as there has been a large uptick in mental health cases following the COVID-19 lockdowns and recent economic instability in the UK; the new plan makes no mention of solutions to any of these root causes whilst the previous '10-year plan' did."

Tim is also concerned as the new plan proposes to place the entire onus of delivering these targets on our already over stretched NHS. On this, Tim said in his letter to the Minister: "It is my belief that - given the wider causes of mental health issues - that it should be an issue that is tackled cross-departmentally. The wisdom and insight that the other government departments may provide are vital in treating the causes of any issues."

Tim ends his letter seeking reassurance from the Minister that mental health will not be side-lined under these new plans. Particularly at a time when the demand for such services is at record levels.

Speaking today Tim said: "The fact that Conservative administration after administration have told us that mental health is a burning issue only for this new set of Ministers to seek to downgrade it is a disgrace. It is a smack in the face for all the tireless campaigners who fought for the 10-year plan. We must be doing more to protect the most vulnerable in our society and ensure that the new plan will address these issues appropriately and effectively."