Suky Kaur, our Head of Policy and Stakeholder Relations, welcomed today’s announcements in the Queen’s Speech around mental health reform.
The proposals include the intent for a legal right for patients to have greater choice and autonomy. We’ve 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 “ensure people have greater control over their treatment and receive the dignity and respect they deserve”.
Choice
There is also a bill to enshrine the National Health Service’s multi-year funding settlement into law, as well as formalising the Government’s intent to seek cross-party consensus on proposals for long term reform of social care in England.
Suky said: “We welcome today’s announcements in the Queen’s Speech around mental health reform.
“We 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.
“We’ve 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
“However, 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.
“BACP 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.”