Suky Kaur, our Head of Policy and Stakeholder Relations, welcomed today鈥檚 announcements in the Queen鈥檚 Speech around mental health reform.
The proposals include the intent for a legal right for patients to have greater choice and autonomy. We鈥檝e long campaigned for greater access to psychological therapies, including counselling.
The legislative programme outlines more than 30 bills including one centred on reforming the Mental Health Act. It aims to 鈥渆nsure people have greater control over their treatment and receive the dignity and respect they deserve鈥�.
Choice
There is also a bill to enshrine the National Health Service鈥檚 multi-year funding settlement into law, as well as formalising the Government鈥檚 intent to seek cross-party consensus on proposals for long term reform of social care in England.
Suky said: 鈥淲e welcome today鈥檚 announcements in the Queen鈥檚 Speech around mental health reform.
鈥淲e particularly support the intent for a legal right for patients to have greater choice and autonomy, including the ability to set out their preferences around care and treatment in advance.
鈥淲e鈥檝e long campaigned for an expansion of choice of psychological therapies, including counselling, and for increases to availability and accessibility of services so clients can access them in a way that better meets their needs.
Dignity
鈥淗owever, for this to be credible, this important ambition needs to be matched with increased investment on the ground to tackle existing waiting lists and ensure dignity in care.
鈥溝愀哿喜示甲柿� looks forward to working with the Government across these important agendas and will be responding to the Mental Health White Paper in the New Year.鈥�