P652 CJEFAX 2 6k2 Fri 07 Feb 21:12/20 NATIONAL LOBBY ON MENTAL HEALTH 1/3 Five leading national organisations have joined forces to lobby the Govjrnmjnt on its mental health policy. The Government is expected to publish a green paper soon on mental health. But the five bodies reject a radical restructuring of mental health services in favour of well planned and better use of existing resources and staff. The five are the Sainsbury Centre for Mental Health and the associations of health authorities, metropolitan and county councils, and social services. CSV index 650 TV 600 Main menu 100 Read Hear 640 News 101 Wjathjt 400 Community TV/Radio News Heads Main MenuP652 CEEFAX 2 652 Fri 07 Feb 21:17/17 O NATIONAL LOBBY ON MENTAL HEALTH 2/3 The five national organisations acknowledge the difficulties current policy create for joint working. But they argue that radical proposals such as creating new mental health authorities or giving one agency the lead would cause furthjt confusion. In a briefing paper they call for legislation to strengthen joint commissioning between health and social sjrviciu authorities. This would enable budgets to be pooled and commissioning shared locally. CSV index 650 TV 600 Main menu 100 Read Hear 640 News 101 Weathjt 400 Community TV/Radio News Heads Main MenuP652 CEEFAX 2 652 Fri 07 Feb 21:14/51 OOO NATIONAL LOBBY ON MENTAL HEALTH 3/3 The five leading organisations call for a statutory framework for the joint commissioning of mental health. They say this would create a single funding stream and a single model of care management, allowing in each area a comprehensive mental health plan. Users and carers would also see the benefits of more coordinated care. The briefing paper calls on the Government to work with health and social authorities to make joint commissioning a reality for the future. CSV index 650 TV 600 Main menu 100 Read Hear 640 News 101 Weathjt 400 Community TV/Radio News Heads Main Menu