The ministers have been informed of waiting times for thousands of people in the mental health crisis in Britain that could help in employment and save the government one billion pounds annually.
According to the research conducted by the University of Lancaster, providing access to treatment faster throughout England through NHS It would help improve the health of hundreds of thousands of people while achieving economic benefits for the nation as a whole.
In a new study published in the latest version of the professionals Economy review and statistics The academic magazine, Professor Roger Brodon, found a one -month delay at the beginning of mental health treatment that led to the loss of 2 % of patients their functions.
Depending on the data of waiting times from the Netherlands between 2012 and 2019, Broadone said that a one -month decrease can help up to 80,000 people in obtaining treatment annually, providing more than 300 million euros (253 million pounds) in the costs related to unemployment each year.
He said that the same account can be applied to the United Kingdom, given a similar spread in mental health problems, in addition to similar and cost -effective treatment times for the economy and general financing of unemployment.
The largest population in Britain may mean a one -month decrease in waiting times to treat mental health can help up to 300,000 people each year, and it will provide about one billion pounds each year of lost income taxes and payments for unemployment benefits.
“Data related to mental health treatments in NHS associated with rare employment results in the United Kingdom, so while preparing the Netherlands is different, the health care system is similar to the UK system – and it faces increasing countries of demands for mental health treatment and expanding waiting lists.”
“By applying this account to the United Kingdom – based on the size of the population only – it can generate approximately one billion pounds annually.”
Ministers pay to It greatly reduces the long waiting times for patients in England With a plan to reduce the retreats of optional treatment in the hospital and provide more appointments through seven -day health centers.
However, charitable societies warn that the plan does not currently include any commitment to address the waiting for mental health services. According to the research conducted by charitable, rethinking mental illness, people are Then eight times to wait more than 18 months To treat mental health from physical conditions.
The government also gives NHS reforms and Cut the waiting lists to enhance employmentWith the aim of enhancing economic growth and reducing the benefits invoice, amid record numbers of adults at work age who leave the workforce due to health issues.
Official numbers show that there is about 3.8 million people in England in contact with NHS mental healthLearning and autism services in 2023-24, up to fifty compared to before the epidemic.
Bruidon said about a million people in the Netherlands in contact with the health service with the issue of mental health. He said that to reduce waiting times for one month, he said that about 100 additional psychiatrists or psychologists will be wanted at an approximate annual cost of 10 million euros (8.4 million pounds).
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Because of the largest population, the UK is four times the need for many additional mental health specialists. However, Brodon said that the savings of Rashil Reeves Extended budget The economy will significantly exceed the costs.
He added: “The issue of waiting times is not new, in the United Kingdom and the Netherlands. This has been a problem at least a decade. But what the discussion is lacking so far is that people say:“ Well, it is important treatment, but the government has limited money, we cannot continue to spend money. ”However, there is also an economic issue.
“It is not only a situation we lose money if we invest more in mental health. In the long run, this country will save a lot of money by maintaining more people in the workforce.”
A government spokesman said: “This government inherited a broken mental health system, with a very large number of people in waiting lists, which will help our transformation towards prevention, along with our social welfare reforms, will help more people return to work and increase economic growth,” a government spokesman said.
“We are transferring mental health services through our plan for change, by investing 680 million pounds this year, employing more employees, providing more modern treatments and lowering mental health waiting lists.”
