On Tuesday the Health and Public Services Committee will question experts on the ability of London’s mental health services to deal with increased demand at a time when the NHS has to find up to £20 billion of savings by 2015.
The Committee will discuss the following issues:
- Current and future challenges of providing mental health services;
- How access to mental health services could be affected by budget cuts; and
- The impact of new arrangements for commissioning mental health services through Clinical Commissioning Groups.
Victoria Borwick AM, Chair of the Health and Public Services Committee, said: “London has higher levels of mental illness than other regions and it is essential that people who are affected are able to access help quickly and easily.
“Demand for mental health services in the capital is increasing, while funding for them is being reduced. Added to this, the way in which the NHS commissions and delivers its services is changing.
“We want to take a detailed look at how London’s vital mental health services will cope with these challenges.”
The meeting will take place on Tuesday, 13 December from 10am in Committee Room 5 at City Hall (The Queen’s Walk, London SE1). Members of the public are invited to attend and the meeting can also be viewed via webcast.
