Government 'to extend mental health services'

Mental health associations today welcomed the government's commitment to treating those with psychological difficulties.

The government has promised to offer psychological therapies to more people on the NHS and mental health charities now say it should back up these promises with the necessary resources.

Minister of state for care services Paul Burstow announced at a New Savoy Partnership (NSP) conference that the government would finish the work of the Improving Access to Psychological Therapies programmes, which is aimed at adults with common mental health issues.

He also said the programme would extend services further to cover children and young people as well as older individuals and those with long-term physical conditions.

According to the Press Association, NSP chair Jeremy Clarke said that this was a step in the right direction for the NHS.

"Access to evidence-based psychological therapies should be the norm in the NHS. We know that timely treatment is not only good for a person's health but also excellent value for public money," he explained.

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