NHS ‘must take whole person approach’
The UK Council for Psychotherapy has said that new NHS Commissioning Boards must recognise the importance of counselling as part of a holistic approach to patient care.
Health secretary Jeremy Hunt will announced the mandate for the boards today. The NHS will be set a new objective to extend the lives of its citizens under a contract with the government.
David Pink, chief executive of UKCP, said:
“The government is right to say that we all value our mental health and emotional wellbeing just as highly as our physical health, and we deserve an NHS that understands that simple truth.
“UKCP welcome the recent positive statements from politicians on mental health, however, a cautionary note is necessary.
“NHS Commissioners must recognise that mental health services are not just about a pill for every ill.
“We need a whole person approach to care and support, which recognises the value of high-quality psychotherapy and counselling as a way of addressing the trauma and emotional distress that underlie so many mental health conditions."
Under the new mandate the NHS will be held accountable on treatment outcomes, rather than the volume of patients treated. The change is designed to increase co-ordination of care with social services and public health.
