The NHS Alliance responds to 'Stability beyond care' report

Responding to the findings of the report commissioned by Citizens Advice ‘Stability beyond care: why welfare advice matters for mental health’, Rebecca Gray, director of The NHS Alliance’s Mental Health Network, said:

“The findings of this report highlight how intrinsically linked mental illness is with social challenges such as debt and housing problems.

“Supporting someone to get well goes far beyond clinical care. Integrating welfare advice into clinical settings – and bringing clinical expertise into non‑NHS community spaces – helps address the needs of people. Yet, despite some of the innovations in integrated support being cost effective in the long-term, it can be tough to introduce and maintain as financial constraints tighten.

“It is vital that we have joined up services and funding. The move to strategic commissioning and neighbourhood health has real potential to drive the work demonstrated in the report. We hope that these findings can lead to more integrated welfare advice in NHS services where needed and that this is designed around what best meets the needs of local communities. Additionally, we hope that commissioners, working with local government, recognise the benefits this could bring.”