NHS mental health providers still waiting for parity with physical health

Adam Saville
clock • 4 min read

According to a recent King's Fund report, NHS mental health trusts still lack staff and funding despite government pledges to achieve parity with physical health services by 2013.

Despite government promises to pledge £1.2bn for child and adolescent mental health and a national strategy for adult mental health backed by £1bn investment in 2013, there is still imparity between physical and mental health services within the NHS, a Kings Fund report has found. According to the report, a functional mental health service requires two things: ‘for a trained workforce to be available and for employers to have the money to pay them.' It said: ‘Our work demonstrates that NHS mental health trusts are struggling to staff existing services on a day-to-day basis and, while ...

To continue reading this article...

Join COVER for free

  • Unlimited access to real-time news, key trend analysis and industry insights.
  • Stay on top of the latest developments around health and wellbeing, diversity and inclusion and the cost of living crisis.
  • Receive breaking news stories straight to your inbox in the daily newsletter.
  • Members only access to monthly programme 'The COVER Review'
  • Be the first to hear about our CPD accredited events and awards programmes.

Join now

 

Already a Cover member?

Login

More on PMI

Trust in PMI rebounds
PMI

Trust in PMI rebounds

Fairer Finance data

Cameron Roberts
clock 09 December 2025 • 1 min read
NHS waiting list stagnant in September 2025
PMI

NHS waiting list stagnant in September 2025

7.39m treatments on list

Cameron Roberts
clock 13 November 2025 • 2 min read
Use of insurer-provided health services up by 23%: ABI
PMI

Use of insurer-provided health services up by 23%: ABI

Association calls for IPT freeze

Jaskeet Briah
clock 03 November 2025 • 3 min read