Millions in England face longer waits for mental health care as NHS providers plan cuts

Millions of adults and children in England face being forced to wait longer for mental health care, with more than two-thirds of NHS providers planning to cut services and half expected to axe jobs. Key services such as child and adolescent mental health care, talking therapies, addiction support, help for adults undergoing a mental health crisis, and community programmes—including those for ethnic minorities and low-income groups—are among those that may be affected.

Seven in 10 (68%) NHS trusts providing mental health services are likely to reduce or shut some of their services in 2026-27, according to a national survey conducted by the NHS Alliance. Of respondents, 59% said they expect to freeze vacancies, with more than half (57%) likely to cut the number of clinical staff they employ this year.

Context and Impact

Mental health services are already under extraordinary pressure amid soaring demand for support. Experts warn the proposed cuts—drawn up by trusts to plug financial holes—will have “significant” consequences for the wider NHS, the economy, and public services.

An NHS consultant psychiatrist, speaking anonymously, said: “This is not an isolated example in east London. Many mental health trusts are in a similar, if not worse, situation and are responding in similar ways through cutting jobs and compromising service delivery.”

A mental health service manager at another NHS trust added: “Many mental health trusts are in a similar position. They have faced declining funding for the last couple of years alongside cost reduction targets.”

Government Response and Future Plans

Earlier this week, Prime Minister Andy Burnham announced plans to create a network of nearly 200 community mental health centres and mental health A&Es by 2029, stating: “These services will make it much easier for people to get the right support, at the right time, in the right place.”

A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson said: “As well as investing a record £16.1bn into mental health services this year, we have recruited more than 8,500 additional mental health workers since this government came into office. Only this week, we announced the rollout of 159 new NHS mental health facilities across England, backed by £343m in funding. Later this year, our mental health strategy will outline how we plan to future-proof the mental health system, including responding earlier and reducing waiting times for support.”

Concerns from Advocates and Unions

Mental health charities welcomed the government’s ambition but cautioned that without adequate funding for staff and services, meaningful improvements to care would be “impossible.”

Alex Stewart, assistant director of the NHS Alliance’s mental health network, said: “Mental health services are coming under extraordinary pressure as a result of rapidly rising demand for care and very tough financial conditions. Despite this, we see many examples of innovation and great care which give real grounds for hope. But it’s increasingly evident that the trade-offs and difficult decisions over jobs and services which we warned about are making their mark.”

Tom Pollard, head of policy at Mind, said the survey results showed “the huge uphill battle we face” to save mental health services in England and ensure everyone could access high-quality care. He added: “The government set out a welcome ambition to move towards a more open access model of support through neighbourhood mental health centres. But if funding for staff and services is being cut, meaningful improvements to the mental health system will be impossible.”

Sharon Graham, general secretary of the trade union Unite, said: “We cannot balance the books on the backs of the most vulnerable in society, and by underfunding mental health provision you simply kick the can down the road and it costs more in the long term. Our members at health trusts across the country are outraged at attempts to cut jobs and services and will be fighting back with the full support of their union.”