19th March 2009
Department of Health announce a new agency for assessing mental health service delivery
On 17 March, Minister for Care Services Phil Hope announced that a new agency to ensure national mental health policies bring about real improvements for patients and carers will start work on 1 April.
The new agency – the National Mental Health Development Unit – will succeed the current National Institute for Mental Health (NIMH) in England.
The change follows a review of mental health service delivery, taking into account Lord Darzi’s NHS Next Stage Review and the need for more personalised services. From April, the ten strategic health authorities* will oversee much of the regional and local delivery of new mental health policies, with support from the new Development Unit.
The Development Unit will continue the momentum in co-ordinating support for key mental health projects such as:
- improving access to talking therapies;
- promoting equalities in mental health services for different groups, based on race, gender and age;
- promoting social inclusion and social justice for people with mental health problems;
- promoting well-being and mental health for the whole population; and
- supporting effective mental health commissioning.
The unit will be led by Dr Ian McPherson, former head of the National Institute for Mental Health.
Notes to Editors
More information about the unit can be found on its website http://www.nmhdu.org.uk which will be available from 1 April 2009.
*The ten Strategic Health Authorities cover the following areas: North East, North West, Yorkshire and the Humber, East Midlands, West Midlands, South West, South Central, London, East of England and South East Coast.
(Source – News Distribution Service for Government and the Public Sector)