A significant shortfall in investment for mental health services in Greater Manchester has been revealed in a recent report by the Integrated Care Board. The report highlights that mental health provision in the region is receiving lower levels of investment compared to the national average. The board has emphasized the need for “fundamental changes” to address this issue effectively.
This report follows a warning notice issued by the Care Quality Commission to the Greater Manchester Mental Health Trust, which deemed its services inadequate after an inspection. Acknowledging the scale and complexity of the challenges, the trust is committed to making the necessary improvements. It is currently receiving support from the NHS England Intensive Support team and aims to exit the program by March 2025.
The report also draws attention to the increased demand on the mental health team at Salford Royal and ongoing difficulties in recruiting social workers for the community mental health team. Despite these challenges, the trust is actively collaborating with partners to make further improvements in service delivery.
The report concludes that mental health services in Greater Manchester have historically experienced underinvestment. However, it notes that the situation is somewhat better in Salford. It is hoped that the findings of an independent clinical review into the Edenfield Centre, where patients were subjected to abuse, will shed more light on the matter once they are published at a later date.
The findings of the Integrated Care Board’s report underscore the urgent need for increased investment in mental health services in Greater Manchester. The current shortfall of £90 million highlights the disparity between the region’s mental health provision and the national average. With the support of the NHS England Intensive Support team, the Greater Manchester Mental Health Trust is determined to address the issues identified by the Care Quality Commission and deliver the necessary improvements.
The challenges faced by the mental health team at Salford Royal and the ongoing recruitment difficulties for social workers in the community mental health team further emphasize the need for targeted investment and collaborative efforts to enhance service delivery.
Mental health services in Greater Manchester have historically suffered from underinvestment, and this report serves as a crucial call to action. The trust’s commitment to working closely with partners and the anticipated findings of the independent clinical review into the Edenfield Centre will be vital in implementing the necessary changes to ensure the delivery of high-quality mental health care in the region.