BPS Policy and Public Affairs team update

In Westminster, we briefed MPs ahead of a Westminster Hall debate on SEND provision and support for mental health services. In Wales, we endorsed a joint letter to Welsh Ministerial departments on health inequalities. In Scotland, we have continued to work with the Scottish Government as its mental health capacity reform programme progresses. 

The team are currently managing a range of consultations, including ones which are currently open for input from members. We've recently responded to several consultations including the Scottish Government's consultation on support for those leaving care and entering adulthood and the Health Education and Improvement Wales' consultation on their action plan for the maternity and neonatal workforce. The UK government has recently launched a consultation to help inform their forthcoming 10-year plan for the NHS. The Policy and Public Affairs team will be responding to this consultation and will be posting a call for evidence for member input shortly on our website. 

Looking ahead, the team's upcoming activities include attending an event to hear more about the UK government's work on their Child Poverty Strategy, attending the second meeting of the Scottish Government's Psychological Therapies Care and Practice Forum, and meeting with the new Associate Director of psychological therapies at Health Education and Improvement Wales to discuss our key priorities and concerns. We will also be monitoring the announcements made by the UK government on 30 October (the Autumn Budget), to ascertain the extent to which the government have delivered on our policy calls and where further action needs to be taken.