Psychiatry Remains The "Cinderella" Speciality, Says British Medical Association, UK

Main Category: Psychology / Psychiatry
Also Included In: Mental Health
Article Date: 27 May 2008 - 1:00 PDT

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Funding for many aspects of NHS mental health care has decreased over the past year with some patient services being adversely affected, according to a survey of doctors published today (Tuesday 27 May, 2008) by the BMA's psychiatry committee.

In a survey*1 of UK doctors working in psychiatric services, just over half (52%) the respondents said there had been a decrease in the overall funding for mental health services. The area most affected in the past year has been in-patient care, the survey indicates. Funding for day services, continuing care, and community mental health teams have also seen decreases. Secure and high dependency care and 'access and crisis' services were most likely to have seen increases in funding.

Respondents were most likely to report that in their view the reason for the decrease in funding was mental health not being seen as a priority area. Resources being focused elsewhere in the trust and a decrease in funding at a national level were also blamed.

Dr JS Bamrah, chairman of the BMA's Psychiatry Committee says: "These results show worrying trends. They illustrate the concerns doctors have about funding, management practices and, in some cases, lack of services to patients. We have known for some time that mental health services are often at the bottom of the pile. Despite record spending in the NHS it appears that psychiatry remains a Cinderella specialty."

Respondents said that cuts in funding have led to a reduction in the number of in-patient beds and some patients being admitted to inappropriate wards, or other services, or being discharged before they have been adequately accessed. Just over half (53%) of doctors reported that low funding levels would result in a delay in accessing psychiatric services. Other adverse impacts included not enough clinical or nursing staff, lack of beds, and delays in implementing patients' care.

1. A questionnaire was sent in February 2008 to a sample of 3000 consultants, staff and associate specialists and junior doctors in the UK. There were 217 replies.

A copy of the report can be accessed on the BMA's website.

British Medical Association

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