Luciana Berger MP, Labour’s Shadow Minister for Mental Health, in response to the publication of the Care Quality Commission’s Community Mental Health Survey 2015 which found no ‘notable improvement’ in people’s experiences of out-of-hospital mental health care, said:

“These latest findings reveal the gulf between what Ministers say they are doing on mental health and what is happening on the ground.

“It is extremely disappointing that the Care Quality Commission has found no real improvements in community mental health services over the past year. It is shocking that in some areas things have got worse.

“It is a credit to our NHS professionals that in some elements of care they have managed to ensure a positive experience for their patients. But more and more they are coming under unrealistic pressure to do more for less. With over a quarter of people reporting a poor experience, warm words from Ministers are not enough.  

“We need urgent action from the Government to address the growing pressures in our mental health services.”