Safety recommendation
It is recommended that NHS England, within the ‘Long-Term Plan’, works with partners to identify and meet the needs of young adults who have mental health problems that require support but do not meet the current criteria for access to adult mental health services.
Response:
- NHSE gathered views on identifying and meeting the needs of young adults through the stakeholder engagement which informed the development of the Long Term Plan (LTP); stakeholder engagement will continue throughout the process of implementing the LTP.
Timescale: completed December 2018.
- The LTP was published in January 2019; it recognises the need to ensure appropriate support for young adults and commits to implementing a new approach to young adult mental health services. This will include a comprehensive offer for 0-25 year olds which reaches across mental health services for children, young people and adults.
Timescale: completed January 2019.
- In addition, the Long Term Plan sets out our ambition to improve transition for all young people whether they are receiving care for their mental or physical health needs. By 2028 we aim to move towards service models across all chronic conditions for young people that offer person- centred and age appropriate care for mental and physical health needs, rather than an arbitrary transition to adult services based on age not need. Our aim is to achieve a safe transition, maintain engagement, improve outcomes and support young people to be fully involved in their own care.
- On 11 March 2019 we published the Clinically-led Review of NHS Access Standards interim report by the NHS National Medical Director, Professor Stephen Powis which sets out our plans to test access to timely, evidence based mental health interventions for people of all ages.
- Following the publication of the NHS Long Term Plan (LTP), the National Implementation Framework, to be published in the Spring, will provide further information on how the LTP will be implemented. Additional details, based on local health system 5 year plans, will be brought together in a detailed national implementation plan in the Autumn.
Timescale: Spring 2019.
Response received on 1 October 2018 and updated on 12 March 2019.