1 Accepted

Severity gap reveals unacceptable failing in timely access to mental health care

Recommendation
Timely access to mental health care is not just a matter of convenience— it is a matter of safety, dignity, and equity. Delays in care can lead to preventable crises, greater distress, poorer outcomes, and higher costs to the system. The severity gap, where people fall between high and low intensity services, reflects an unacceptable failing of the system to support people with SMI. High-quality care must be available when it is needed, not only when a person reaches crisis point. (Conclusion, Paragraph 29)
Government Response Summary
The government accepts, committing to embedding the voice of people with lived experience in person-centred care delivery. They highlight community-based mental health centres as an example where experts by experience co-produce models to ensure high-quality, timely care, not just at crisis points.
Government Response
Accepted
HM Government Accepted
The government accepts this recommendation. Embedding the voice of people with lived experience is fundamental to delivering person-centred mental health care. We are committed to ensuring that NHS services reflect what matters most to those who use them, and that NHS mental health services deliver the care that people need. The community based mental health centres are an example of this recommendation in action. Experts by experience have been involved in the pilot process from the start, co-producing the key principles of the model, designing and participating in the selection process and the independent evaluation. Genuine co-production with people and families is one of the 10 principles informing the model. Each centre demonstrates genuine co-production by making sure that people with lived experience, families and carers are equal partners in the design, governance and day to day operation. The model and service offer are shaped by what local people and families say they need most. Community based mental health centres put co-production into practice, creating services that are grounded in the realities of people’s lives. More broadly, NHS England is providing guidance and practical tools to help systems involve people who use services and their families meaningfully and inclusively. This includes culturally competent engagement, accessible formats for underrepresented groups, and digital tools such as the NHS App, enabling people to participate actively in care planning and provide feedback. Embedding the patient and carer race equality framework (PCREF) within this process is essential. PCREF’s participatory approach, co-produced with communities most affected by racial inequalities, ensures that service design actively addresses disparities in access, experience, and outcomes. By integrating PCREF principles into commissioning and delivery, providers can create culturally competent, equitable services that reflect the voices and needs of diverse populations. Recent reforms to Community Mental Health Services
Addressee Bodies
Department of Health and Social Care
Timeline
Recommendation age 0.7 yr
Report published 02 Dec 2025