3 Accepted in Part

Current mental health services fail to provide person-centred, holistic care

Recommendation
Service users, their families, carers and loved ones have been clear: high- quality care must be person-centred, responsive to the full range of needs individuals experience, and ensure involvement of their wider networks. Current services too often fall short—focusing narrowly on diagnosis, overlooking physical health, and failing to support people with housing, employment, and social connection. People are more than a diagnosis and the support they are given must reflect this through integrated approaches that take account of the whole person, the enduring nature of severe mental illness, and recognise the vital role played by families and carers. (Conclusion, Paragraph 49)
Government Response Summary
The government partially accepts, launching 6 national pilots of community-based mental health centres with £473 million capital funding. These pilots aim to provide integrated, person-centred care, with an evaluation due in 2026 to inform future models.
Government Response
Accepted in Part
HM Government Accepted in Part
The government partially accepts this recommendation. We have launched 6 national pilots of community based mental health centres that have the potential to transform mental health services, with evaluation due in 2026. We will look at the outcome of the pilots carefully to assess the effects of this new service model, particularly on patient experience, access and potential reductions in pressure on existing services, and economic impact. Over 4 years, the government will make available capital funding of £473 million to invest in new models, including community based mental health centres, building on findings from the 6 pilots, alongside other capital projects. Integrated care boards (ICBs) have the flexibility over this funding to decide what models are best suited for their populations. This flexible investment allows for systems to develop community based mental health centre infrastructure, supported by a national implementation team that is actively sharing networks, learning and practical resources emerging from early delivery. Through the community based mental health centres, people with SMI and their families can receive care and treatment when they need it, in their community, 24 hours a day. The centres are an innovative reorganisation of mental health services into one place to end the silos and hand-offs between teams, restore continuity of care and lower access and waiting times. The centres are co-delivered with primary care, VCSFE and specialist services which can be drawn on as required. People can receive psychological therapies, medication and other interventions while also having access to expertise that can help with other wider issues that may be impacting on their wellbeing and recovery such as housing or employment, creating a holistic offer of care. Bringing these centres into the heart of communities means that people with SMI who are in crisis do not need to present in A&E departments but instead can get the support they need in an appropriate, calming environment.
Addressee Bodies
Department of Health and Social Care
Timeline
Recommendation age 0.7 yr
Report published 02 Dec 2025