Mental health services are best delivered through a properly funded NHS

Report shows NHS is reliant on private firms and charities

Date posted: 29 August 2025
Commenting on a new report from the King’s Fund that concluded the NHS is now reliant on private companies and charities to deliver routine mental health care, UNISON general secretary Christina McAnea said today (Friday):
“Mental health services have been underfunded and sidelined for far too long.“But leaving the NHS with an increased reliance on private firms for these services is a false economy.

“It costs everyone more, delivers less and reduces accountability for patients. There’s also a risk government ambitions to shift care out of hospitals will be in tatters.

“The damage done to adult social services by years of underfunding and privatisation is plain to see. History cannot be allowed to repeat itself with mental health.

“It’s high time ministers made good on their insourcing promises. Properly funded, publicly delivered mental health services will benefit patients, staff and taxpayers.”

Notes to editors:
– UNISON is the UK’s largest union with more than 1.3 million members providing public services in education, local government, the NHS, police service and energy. They are employed in the public, voluntary and private sectors.

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Anthony Barnes M: 07834 864794 E: [email protected]