A national mental health charity, Mental Health Matters, has penned an open letter to the Chancellor in anticipation of the Autumn Budget, urging for a £30 million investment fund to be established. This fund would be used to incorporate Voluntary, Community, Faith and Social Enterprise (VCFSE) services within existing NHS estates.
The proposal put forward by the charity suggests using the funds to refurbish unused NHS buildings, including spaces in hospitals and GP surgeries. This investment would create permanent spaces for voluntary and community-led services to operate on-site, alongside the NHS.
According to Jane Hughes, Chief Executive of Mental Health Matters, there are currently over 800,000 square metres of unused or underutilised space within the NHS estate, costing the taxpayer over £375 million. She believes that the charity sector is well-equipped to deliver services in these spaces, and this proposal would make services more visible, accessible, and integrated with the NHS.
The proposed plan aims to decrease the reliance on temporary prefab structures and make better use of underused NHS spaces. By providing voluntary and community organisations with safe and high-quality spaces, the plan aims to offer prevention, early intervention, and recovery support.
Additionally, the proposal suggests involving local VCFSE partners in the co-designing of facilities to meet the specific needs of the community.
Sarah Wileman, Director of Development at Mental Health Matters, stated, “Local communities know what works for them. By working together, we can transform empty spaces into services that are accessible, inclusive, and tailored to local needs.”
The charity believes that this investment would not only help the Government deliver on NHS England’s Community Mental Health Transformation priorities but also ensure more efficient use of taxpayer money. Furthermore, the building rental income generated from these spaces would be reinvested back into the health system.
Distributed by https://pressat.co.uk/
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