New waiting-time targets for mental health treatment and stronger support for young adults with difficulties will be an important part of the government’s long-awaited 10-year NHS plan to be launched on Monday.
“Comprehensive access standards” for mental health will be introduced for the first time, in an effort to close the gap between physical and mental health treatment. Waiting-time targets are well established for A&E treatment, surgery and cancer care.
The plan will include an extra £2.3bn to pay for talking therapies for an additional 350,000 young people and 380,000 adults over the next five years.
Full story in The Guardian, 6 January 2019