The chair of the Doctors’ Association UK (DAUK) has welcomed an announcement that the specialist mental health service for doctors will continue for a further 12 months.
Ms Helen Fernandes said it was ‘really good news’ that NHS Practitioner Health had secured funding until March 2026.
She said: “This is really good news and most welcome.
“The work of NHS Practitioner Health is greatly needed at a time when the medical profession is on its knees and healthcare professionals are under huge pressure.
“The service is so important in supporting doctors while we support our patients. It’s needed more than ever.”
DAUK broke the news in April that Practitioner Health had been due to have its funding cut while a review into the service was carried out.
It led to a social media storm and widespread criticism before NHS England announced the service would be extended by 12 months while a wider review was carried out.
Announcing that funding was in place until March 2026, Lucy Warner, NHS Practitioner Health chief executive, said: “Earlier this year we were hugely grateful to those individuals and stakeholders who spoke out in support for the service, highlighting the impact of NHS Practitioner Health on their lives and those of friends and colleagues.
“As a result, we saw agreement from NHS England to fund the service for a further 12 months to March 2025, while they carried out a review into staff mental health support.
“Over the last six months we have been engaging with our commissioners and inputting into the review.
“We have now been reassured that our funding is secure for a further 12 months through to March 2026, to enable time for the review to be completed and for a clearer picture to emerge on long term support for all staff.
“We really believe we have been able to demonstrate the value and impact of the service and hope that by the end of this review NHS England will have identified a long term future for NHS Practitioner Health.”
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