Latest news with #Streeting
Daily Mirror
a day ago
- Health
- Daily Mirror
NHS under Labour carries out 100,000 more appointments a week than under Tories
Health Secretary Wes Streeting says 'every extra appointment we've delivered represents someone getting their life back on track' The NHS in England is carrying out 100,000 more appointments a week now than it was under the previous Tory government. Health Secretary Wes Streeting announced an extra 4.2 million appointments took place in the first nine months since the General Election when compared to the same period the previous year. This more than double the target Labour had set to deliver two million extra NHS appointments in the first year. Mr Streeting said: 'Every extra appointment we've delivered represents someone getting their life back on track. A parent no longer in pain, a worker returning to their job, an elderly person regaining their independence. 'What's remarkable is that we're seeing progress faster than expected. We've delivered 4.2 million extra elective appointments in the nine months since July – more than double our target of two million in the first year. "This didn't happen by accident. With proper investment and proper reform, we're changing how care is delivered.' The NHS waiting list in England has come down to its lowest for two years but still stood at 7.39 million treatments waiting to be carried out at the end of April New NHS data also shows 6,700 more mental health workers have now been recruited since July 2024. This is 79% of the way to the Government's 8,500 target. Mr Streeting said: 'Not getting the right support for your mental health isn't just debilitating, it can hit a painful pause button on your life – stopping you working, enjoying time with family and friends, or living day-to-day life. Patients have faced the crisis of access to mental health services for far too long. 'We are already over halfway towards our target of recruiting 8,500 extra mental health workers, and through our upcoming 10 Year Health Plan we will get more people back to health and back to work.' Since last year's General Election the incoming Labour government has increased NHS spending by £26 billion and ended NHS strikes which had been hampering the service after a decade-long funding squeeze under the Tories. Mr Streeting added: 'When there's so much cynicism in politics going round, I'm proud that this is a government that delivers on its promises. We promised to cut NHS waiting lists, and we're delivering. We said we'd hire 1,000 new GPs, and we've recruited over 1,500. We pledged to make our NHS fit for the future and we've invested £26 billion just this year to start making that a reality. 'We're bringing services closer to communities, giving patients more control over their treatment and boosting digital innovations so the NHS works better for everyone. 'The journey to getting our NHS back on its feet will take time, but these early results show we're on the right path. It's only this government that can be trusted to rebuild our NHS and make it fit for the future.'
South Wales Guardian
a day ago
- Health
- South Wales Guardian
Government announces plans to put ‘digital front doors' on mental health care
Health Secretary Wes Streeting said the Government is 'putting digital front doors on mental health services for patients up and down the country'. The Government also confirmed that 85 new mental health emergency departments will be built across England. It comes as new figures suggest mental health conditions such as anxiety and depression are on the rise in England. Plans to build dedicated emergency departments for mental health patients were announced last month. The 85 units will be funded by £120 million secured in the Spending Review, the Department of Health and Social Care said. Open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, they will be staffed by specialist nurses and doctors. Patients who need help will be able to walk in, or will be able to be referred by their GP. Elsewhere, patients will be offered better access to mental health support through the NHS App, including being able to self-refer for talking therapies without the need to see their family doctor. The measures form part of the Government's 10 Year Plan and could also pave the way for AI-driven virtual support, according to the Department. Mr Streeting said: 'Not getting the right support for your mental health isn't just debilitating, it can hit a painful pause button on your life – stopping you working, enjoying time with family and friends, or living day-to-day life. 'Patients have faced the crisis of access to mental health services for far too long, and this Government is determined to change that through our Plan for Change to rebuild the NHS. 'That's why we're putting digital front doors on mental health services for patients up and down the country and harnessing technology to provide 24-hour care. And we're creating more opportunities for support not just through the NHS App but through care in your community too. 'We are already over halfway towards our target of recruiting 8,500 extra mental health workers, and through our upcoming 10 Year Health Plan we will get more people back to health and back to work.' It comes as the latest Adult Psychiatric Morbidity Survey suggested more than one in five people aged 16 to 74 had reported so-called 'common mental health conditions'. These include generalised anxiety disorder, depressive episodes, phobias, obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) and panic disorder. These problems were most common among young people, with more than a quarter of those aged 16 to 24 reporting having any of these conditions, up from 17.5% in 2007. There was also a sharp increase in the number of women aged 16 to 24 reporting the conditions, with 36.1% saying they had any one of the issues listed, up from 28.2% in 2014 and 22.2% in 2007. Meanwhile, the survey found the number of 16 to 74-year-olds with common mental health conditions who reported having treatment rose from 39.4% in 2014 to 47.7% in 2023/24. Dr Lade Smith, president of the Royal College of Psychiatrists, said: 'Digital technologies can make it easier for people with mental illness to access care. 'While people have long been able to self-refer to talking therapies, providing access through the NHS App will make this more accessible. 'There are many evidence-based digital interventions which can support people with mental ill-health; however, a lack of investment has stalled their progress. 'The Government must also invest in the necessary technological infrastructure for mental health organisations and their staff, to allow access to digital interventions.'
North Wales Chronicle
2 days ago
- Health
- North Wales Chronicle
Government announces plans to put ‘digital front doors' on mental health care
Health Secretary Wes Streeting said the Government is 'putting digital front doors on mental health services for patients up and down the country'. The Government also confirmed that 85 new mental health emergency departments will be built across England. It comes as new figures suggest mental health conditions such as anxiety and depression are on the rise in England. Plans to build dedicated emergency departments for mental health patients were announced last month. The 85 units will be funded by £120 million secured in the Spending Review, the Department of Health and Social Care said. Open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, they will be staffed by specialist nurses and doctors. Patients who need help will be able to walk in, or will be able to be referred by their GP. Elsewhere, patients will be offered better access to mental health support through the NHS App, including being able to self-refer for talking therapies without the need to see their family doctor. The measures form part of the Government's 10 Year Plan and could also pave the way for AI-driven virtual support, according to the Department. Mr Streeting said: 'Not getting the right support for your mental health isn't just debilitating, it can hit a painful pause button on your life – stopping you working, enjoying time with family and friends, or living day-to-day life. 'Patients have faced the crisis of access to mental health services for far too long, and this Government is determined to change that through our Plan for Change to rebuild the NHS. 'That's why we're putting digital front doors on mental health services for patients up and down the country and harnessing technology to provide 24-hour care. And we're creating more opportunities for support not just through the NHS App but through care in your community too. 'We are already over halfway towards our target of recruiting 8,500 extra mental health workers, and through our upcoming 10 Year Health Plan we will get more people back to health and back to work.' It comes as the latest Adult Psychiatric Morbidity Survey suggested more than one in five people aged 16 to 74 had reported so-called 'common mental health conditions'. These include generalised anxiety disorder, depressive episodes, phobias, obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) and panic disorder. These problems were most common among young people, with more than a quarter of those aged 16 to 24 reporting having any of these conditions, up from 17.5% in 2007. There was also a sharp increase in the number of women aged 16 to 24 reporting the conditions, with 36.1% saying they had any one of the issues listed, up from 28.2% in 2014 and 22.2% in 2007. Meanwhile, the survey found the number of 16 to 74-year-olds with common mental health conditions who reported having treatment rose from 39.4% in 2014 to 47.7% in 2023/24. Dr Lade Smith, president of the Royal College of Psychiatrists, said: 'Digital technologies can make it easier for people with mental illness to access care. 'While people have long been able to self-refer to talking therapies, providing access through the NHS App will make this more accessible. 'There are many evidence-based digital interventions which can support people with mental ill-health; however, a lack of investment has stalled their progress. 'The Government must also invest in the necessary technological infrastructure for mental health organisations and their staff, to allow access to digital interventions.'
Leader Live
2 days ago
- Health
- Leader Live
Government announces plans to put ‘digital front doors' on mental health care
Health Secretary Wes Streeting said the Government is 'putting digital front doors on mental health services for patients up and down the country'. The Government also confirmed that 85 new mental health emergency departments will be built across England. It comes as new figures suggest mental health conditions such as anxiety and depression are on the rise in England. Plans to build dedicated emergency departments for mental health patients were announced last month. The 85 units will be funded by £120 million secured in the Spending Review, the Department of Health and Social Care said. Open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, they will be staffed by specialist nurses and doctors. Patients who need help will be able to walk in, or will be able to be referred by their GP. Elsewhere, patients will be offered better access to mental health support through the NHS App, including being able to self-refer for talking therapies without the need to see their family doctor. The measures form part of the Government's 10 Year Plan and could also pave the way for AI-driven virtual support, according to the Department. Mr Streeting said: 'Not getting the right support for your mental health isn't just debilitating, it can hit a painful pause button on your life – stopping you working, enjoying time with family and friends, or living day-to-day life. 'Patients have faced the crisis of access to mental health services for far too long, and this Government is determined to change that through our Plan for Change to rebuild the NHS. 'That's why we're putting digital front doors on mental health services for patients up and down the country and harnessing technology to provide 24-hour care. And we're creating more opportunities for support not just through the NHS App but through care in your community too. 'We are already over halfway towards our target of recruiting 8,500 extra mental health workers, and through our upcoming 10 Year Health Plan we will get more people back to health and back to work.' It comes as the latest Adult Psychiatric Morbidity Survey suggested more than one in five people aged 16 to 74 had reported so-called 'common mental health conditions'. These include generalised anxiety disorder, depressive episodes, phobias, obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) and panic disorder. These problems were most common among young people, with more than a quarter of those aged 16 to 24 reporting having any of these conditions, up from 17.5% in 2007. There was also a sharp increase in the number of women aged 16 to 24 reporting the conditions, with 36.1% saying they had any one of the issues listed, up from 28.2% in 2014 and 22.2% in 2007. Meanwhile, the survey found the number of 16 to 74-year-olds with common mental health conditions who reported having treatment rose from 39.4% in 2014 to 47.7% in 2023/24. Dr Lade Smith, president of the Royal College of Psychiatrists, said: 'Digital technologies can make it easier for people with mental illness to access care. 'While people have long been able to self-refer to talking therapies, providing access through the NHS App will make this more accessible. 'There are many evidence-based digital interventions which can support people with mental ill-health; however, a lack of investment has stalled their progress. 'The Government must also invest in the necessary technological infrastructure for mental health organisations and their staff, to allow access to digital interventions.'
Powys County Times
2 days ago
- Health
- Powys County Times
Government announces plans to put ‘digital front doors' on mental health care
Mental health patients will be able to self-refer for talking therapies using the NHS App under new plans. Health Secretary Wes Streeting said the Government is 'putting digital front doors on mental health services for patients up and down the country'. The Government also confirmed that 85 new mental health emergency departments will be built across England. It comes as new figures suggest mental health conditions such as anxiety and depression are on the rise in England. Plans to build dedicated emergency departments for mental health patients were announced last month. The 85 units will be funded by £120 million secured in the Spending Review, the Department of Health and Social Care said. Open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, they will be staffed by specialist nurses and doctors. Patients who need help will be able to walk in, or will be able to be referred by their GP. Elsewhere, patients will be offered better access to mental health support through the NHS App, including being able to self-refer for talking therapies without the need to see their family doctor. The measures form part of the Government's 10 Year Plan and could also pave the way for AI-driven virtual support, according to the Department. Mr Streeting said: 'Not getting the right support for your mental health isn't just debilitating, it can hit a painful pause button on your life – stopping you working, enjoying time with family and friends, or living day-to-day life. 'Patients have faced the crisis of access to mental health services for far too long, and this Government is determined to change that through our Plan for Change to rebuild the NHS. 'That's why we're putting digital front doors on mental health services for patients up and down the country and harnessing technology to provide 24-hour care. And we're creating more opportunities for support not just through the NHS App but through care in your community too. 'We are already over halfway towards our target of recruiting 8,500 extra mental health workers, and through our upcoming 10 Year Health Plan we will get more people back to health and back to work.' It comes as the latest Adult Psychiatric Morbidity Survey suggested more than one in five people aged 16 to 74 had reported so-called 'common mental health conditions'. These include generalised anxiety disorder, depressive episodes, phobias, obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) and panic disorder. These problems were most common among young people, with more than a quarter of those aged 16 to 24 reporting having any of these conditions, up from 17.5% in 2007. There was also a sharp increase in the number of women aged 16 to 24 reporting the conditions, with 36.1% saying they had any one of the issues listed, up from 28.2% in 2014 and 22.2% in 2007. Meanwhile, the survey found the number of 16 to 74-year-olds with common mental health conditions who reported having treatment rose from 39.4% in 2014 to 47.7% in 2023/24. Dr Lade Smith, president of the Royal College of Psychiatrists, said: 'Digital technologies can make it easier for people with mental illness to access care. 'While people have long been able to self-refer to talking therapies, providing access through the NHS App will make this more accessible. 'There are many evidence-based digital interventions which can support people with mental ill-health; however, a lack of investment has stalled their progress. 'The Government must also invest in the necessary technological infrastructure for mental health organisations and their staff, to allow access to digital interventions.'
