Lib Dems demand parity for mental health service
Lib Dems demand parity for mental health service
Cllr John Howson, Lib Dem Candidate for Castle Point said,
"Mental health services have been badly neglected in this country. young people are especially at risk if early symptoms are not dealt with quickly. Too many young people requiring in-patient care are also being sent long distances making family visits difficult and creating a sense of isolation. "
Nationally, Lib Dems recognise that the NHS is the envy of the world, but our mental health service is not. Waiting times are being missed, people are not being referred for the treatment they need, and often action is taken only when at 'crisis' point, or too late.
That's why the Liberal Democrats are dedicated to transforming mental health services by treating them with the same urgency as physical health.
Approximately one in four people in the UK will experience a mental health problem each year. For too many, treatment is a postcode lottery; with waiting times for psychological therapy up to 176 days in Leicester.
Making mental health services accessible to all is fundamental, and no one should be forced to travel unreasonable distances away from home. By prioritising young people coming out of care, and supporting students from school through to colleges and universities, it is possible to ensure that no one will have to travel out of area for all but the most specialist mental health services.
By putting a penny in the pound on income tax and ring fencing £11 billion in funding for mental health, the Liberal Democrats will provide real parity between mental and physical health care. We want to make prescriptions for people with chronic mental health conditions available for free on the NHS, as is the case for conditions such as cancer and diabetes.
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