The UK government have announced a major restructuring of and cuts to NHS England, the Department for Health and Social Care, and Integrated Care Systems.
Responding to the announcement, Alexa Knight, Director of England at the Mental Health Foundation, said:
“With mental health challenges so widespread across the country, there is a danger that focusing on restructuring NHS back offices will divert time and effort from bolstering services and improving people’s health.
“Eliminating NHS England, alongside major cuts to the Department for Health and Social Care and local Integrated Care Systems, will likely impact the delivery of the sort of preventative services, campaigns and programmes that improve individuals’ health and reduce pressure on the NHS. We hope that the restructuring of our health service at least provides an opportunity to put mental health back at the centre of the DHSC’s work, after years of it being increasingly side lined.”