Waiting time targets in mental health care are dangerous | Letter
This is just virtue signalling by the government and will not help overstretched emergency services, says Dr Benjamin McKechnie
With respect to your article, NHS England’s plan to implement five new waiting time standards is mere virtue signalling and will not lead to improvements in mental health care unless backed by increased funding.
As the Guardian has reported, mental health beds are down 25% since 2010, and this is mirrored by similar cuts elsewhere in mental health services. In a system already nearing breaking point, does NHS England really believe that our inability to see patients in good time is down to a lack of targets, rather than resource and staffing shortages?
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Category: Mental Health