Budget a ‘missed opportunity’ to improve the lives of millions
The BPS has called today’s budget a ‘massive missed opportunity’ to improve the lives of millions, with a failure to commit to spending on the NHS mental health workforce, NHS staff wellbeing services, a national roll out of Early Intervention Hubs and the Essentials Guarantee.
06 March 2024
While the investment into digital transformation within the NHS is welcome, the lack of dedicated funding for NHS staff mental health and wellbeing services is hugely disappointing, particularly when the government has said it is committed to working with the NHS to reduce the costs of agency staffing, something that can be helped by providing dedicated mental health and wellbeing services to enable staff to stay in work.
The announcement of an extra £2.5bn for day-to-day NHS spending will offer much needed - but temporary - respite from the huge financial challenges that the health service is facing.
The commitment to invest £105 million to build 15 new SEND schools is encouraging, but it raises questions about the lack of investment into SEND provision in mainstream schools which promotes inclusion and can meet many children's needs.
The six-month extension to the Household Support Fund, while welcome, will provide little relief to families struggling with the ongoing cost of living crisis which will last well beyond the next six months.
Dr Roman Raczka, President-Elect of the BPS, said:
"Before today's budget we asked the government to join the dots between the lack of investment in public services and the social security system and the soaring number of people struggling with mental health challenges.
"Unfortunately, despite all the evidence available to him, the chancellor has not done this, and as a result we risk seeing more and more people become poorer and suffering with more mental and physical health problems.
"There was plenty of talk about investing in technology within the NHS, but not one mention about investing in the people within the NHS. People are the ones who deliver the services and who are crucial to tackling the enormous waiting lists.
"Therefore, it is hugely disappointing that the government has not committed to funding to NHS staff mental health and wellbeing services, particularly when the government has stated it will work with the NHS to reduce the costs of agency staffing."