Those with mental health problems fare the worst

By Liz Lockhart

A new survey published by RCPsych, raises the question of whether the reforms proposed in the government’s Health and Social Care Bill can really work.

When reading government press releases about proposed changes to policy it is easy to feel optimistic about the future of health care, particularly as the need for improvement to treatment and care for the mentally ill is so necessary. However, the press release below should sound alarm bells as 9 out of 10 psychiatrists who responded to this new survey do not think that the proposed reforms will lead to better patient care.

Psychiatrists do not support the Health and Social Care Bill

Royal College of Psychiatrists Press Release

Only 1 in 10 psychiatrists believe that the reforms proposed in the government’s Health and Social Care Bill will lead to better patient care, according a snapshot survey carried out by the Royal College of Psychiatrists (RCPsych). The survey, which had 1,890 respondents, also found that: ·

84% believe that the RCPsych should call for the Bill to be withdrawn ·
93% were not reassured by the Government’s response to the recent Listening Exercise
85% believe that the current reforms will not deliver cost-effective care
78% believe that the current reforms will not improve relationships between GPs and psychiatrists

Professor Sue Bailey, President of the Royal College of Psychiatrists, said: “Our findings are extremely worrying. Nine out of 10 of the psychiatrists who responded do not think that the current reforms will lead to better patient care. Our mental health service users are a particularly vulnerable group, who already experience considerable health inequalities. History tells us that in times of economic restraint, when combined with major reform, those with mental health problems fare the worst.

“Perhaps most significantly, 84% of our members have expressed the view that the Bill should be withdrawn. At this stage of the Bill’s passage, and on behalf of our members, I urgently call on the House of Lords to set up a health select committee to interrogate and debate more fully the implications of these reforms for our patients.”

Professor Bailey continued: “In the meantime psychiatrists, as doctors, are continuously working with our GP colleagues to ensure we deliver the best care and treatment for patients and their families.” The results of the RCPsych survey are published a day after the results of a similar snapshot survey were published by the Royal College of General Practitioners.