NHS: Mental Health Funding

Baroness Pitkeathley Excerpts

Wednesday 2nd April 2014 Lords Chamber

[Earl Howe]

I can only repeat what I already said to the noble Lord, Lord Hunt. We have expressed our dismay at ministerial level about that decision and will therefore scrutinise local commissioning plans to ensure that, if cuts are implemented and there is freedom not to do so, outcomes and access to services are not damaged.

[Baroness Pitkeathley (Lab)]

My Lords, there are three times as many deaths from suicide as from road accidents. The prescription of antidepressants went up by 10% last year and still only one-quarter of people with a mental illness are in treatment. Are the Government satisfied with the level of funding for preventive and psychological support services?

[Earl Howe]

This is the very reason that we have placed such emphasis on the IAPT programme, into which £400 million is going over the course of this Parliament. I am pleased to say that we are broadly on track to deliver a step change in access to those services.