Millions in England face longer waits for mental health care as NHS providers plan cuts
Exclusive: Seven in 10 survey respondents expect services to be reduced or shut, while more than half anticipate job losses Millions of adults and children in England face being forced to wait longer for mental health care, with more than two-thirds of NHS providers planning to cut services and half expected to axe jobs, the Guardian can reveal. With mental health services already under…
A national survey conducted by the NHS Alliance has revealed that seven out of ten NHS trusts providing mental health services in England plan to reduce or shut services by 2026-27, with more than half expecting to cut jobs. The study, conducted in March before the new financial year, also highlighted the significant impact these cuts could have on the wider NHS, economy, and public services.
Experts warn that the proposed cuts, aimed at addressing financial shortfalls, will disproportionately affect key areas such as child and adolescent mental health care, talking therapies, addiction support, and community programs. Mental health charities and union leaders have expressed concern over the potential consequences, emphasizing that meaningful improvements to care are impossible without adequate funding for staff and services.
Written by urgent.news from Guardian Health's reporting — not their text. Machine-written; read the original for the full account.
