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CHILDREN’S COMMISSIONER REPORT ON CHILDREN’S MENTAL HEALTH SPENDING

Responding to a report by the Children’s Commissioner on local area spending on low level children’s mental health services, Chair of the Local Government Association’s Children and Young People Board, Cllr Anntoinette Bramble, said:

“Significant funding pressures mean many councils are being forced to cut some of the vital early intervention services which can support children with low level mental health issues and avoid more serious problems in later life.

“Children’s services face a funding gap of £3.1 billion by 2025 while public health services, which also help children get the best start in life, have seen cuts of £700 million. If we are to improve provision of preventative and early intervention services then it is vital the Government adequately funds these in the forthcoming Spending Review.

“But we also need the NHS to work more effectively with councils. In addition, the Government promised £1.7 billion for children’s mental health, and it should make certain that all of this is received by children’s mental health services, and not diverted elsewhere. Where it has been spent on other services, government should make up the shortfall.”


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