NHS Shared Business Services (NHS SBS) has launched a new £70 million framework agreement, designed to speed up the time it takes for patients to access mental health services.
The Mental Health, Learning Disability and Autism: Assessment and Diagnosis, NHS Talking Therapies and Crisis Services framework agreement provides NHS organisations with easy access to suppliers, including voluntary, community and social enterprises, that offer a wide range of services.
According to figures from Mind, the cost of poor mental health is around £300bn a year in England alone.
The new agreement is one of the first to be awarded under the new Provider Selection Regime and is split into three lots.
Lot 1, assessment and diagnosis includes a range of services and clinical assessments used in the diagnosis of common mental health conditions, severe mental illness, and neurological conditions.
Lot 2, NHS talking therapies covers NHS talking therapies for anxiety and depression. It provides treatment and psychotherapy for people with common mental health problems, including mixed depression and anxiety, panic disorder, agoraphobia and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
Lot 3, crisis services focuses on relapse prevention, helping relevant authorities respond to patients at times when their mental health and/or social situation has deteriorated to the point they are at considerable risk and require additional support to remain in their current accommodation and/or prevent further harm.
Laura Goodwin, category manager for NHS SBS, said: “Following extensive research and market engagement, NHS SBS understood the need and urgency for this one-of-a-kind Mental Health, Learning Disability and Autism: Assessment and Diagnosis, NHS Talking Therapies and Crisis Services Framework Agreement.
“Mental health problems are rising, and as a result, people are waiting longer than they should to access the care they need – a problem that has been highlighted in the Long Term Plan, the NHS 2024/25 priorities and Lord Darzi’s review of the NHS.
“Trusted, competent third-party suppliers are an efficient and effective way of tackling waiting lists. With our NHS customers contacting us regularly looking for help, we are confident that this new framework agreement will enable trusts to get the additional support they - and their patients – so desperately need.”
