Making the Case for Integrating Mental and Physical Health Care - Full Report.

Abstract

The Strategy Unit, inspired by earlier research published by the Nuffield Trust, has created a ground breaking report for all STPs which investigates in detail the interaction between mental and physical health. The work describes and unpacks the gap between the physical health and life expectancy of those in contact with specialist mental health services and the rest of the population, and examines levels of variation in health care utilisation. ‘Making the Case for Integrating Physical and Mental Health Care’ has been designed to inform greater partnership working within local health economies to drive better health outcomes for patients and improved levels of efficiency. The Black Country STP were the pilot area for this work, and subsequently NHS England commissioned a version of the report for all 44 STPs in England. These STP reports were published via STP leads in May 2017 and have received wide-spread acclaim for their quality, depth and real-world practical relevance. We are particularly enthused by the positive reaction from the clinical community, with lots of examples where our work has helped to catalyse clinically- led service improvement initiatives The reports give STPs bespoke data and analysis, setting out the scope to improve patient care by better integrating mental and physical health services, in line with the ambition set out in the Five Year Forward View for the NHS. They also model potential benefits and opportunities for financial reinvestment from reduced pressure on acute care and elsewhere. Director of the Strategy Unit, Peter Spilsbury, said: “This report is important. Using newly linked national data and novel analysis, it can unpack for each STP area one of the biggest yet least spoken about health gaps facing our society - the gap between the physical health and life expectancy of those in contact with mental health services and the rest of the population.” "Some of the differentials in both health outcomes and health service utilisation are eye opening but we have been able to use these findings (and the summary of the evidence base provided) to begin building a broad coalition of local partners to identify and implement practical changes. I commend it enthusiastically to colleagues as a catalyst for much needed change.” According to the study, men with mental health disorders in England are estimated to live 19 years less than those without. For women this gap is around 16 years and the figures for both can vary substantially between STP localities.