UK

Doctors’ union responds to Labour’s proposed mental health care reforms


By  Dr. Tim Sandle
June 30, 2025

DIGITAL JOURNAL

Britain's Prime Minister Keir Starmer is looking to deepen ties with the EU - Copyright AFP WANG Zhao

The UK government, amidst opposition from its own MPs, is seeking to introduce a controversial welfare bill and to reform areas like disability assessments and mental health diagnoses.

The government also has recently unveiled a 10-year health plan which aims to achieve three shifts in NHS services towards more community-based care, prevention of ill health and use of digital technology.

The British Medical Association (BMA) has spoken out strongly against the intentions of Kier Starmer’s government. The BMA is a professional association and trade union representing and negotiating on behalf of all doctors in the UK.

Responding to the government’s announcement of plans to boost mental health care in the NHS, BMA mental health policy lead Dr Andrew Molodynski says: “The BMA has long warned that the NHS mental health care system is broken, so it is welcome that the government are acknowledging the need to improve mental health support and access in the Ten-Year Health Plan.”

Molodynski focuses on staff shortages and related areas like training: “While recruitment efforts are ongoing, the voices of doctors on the front line report a system that is still struggling to cope as the lack of skilled and trained staff means patients are routinely failed as demand for mental health care far outstrips current capacity.”

Specialist mental health widens the divide between physical and mental health care

Starmer’s administration is seekibng to plug gaps by promoting a digital first strategy, however Molodynski is concerned about the lack of human contact: “Improving access to mental health support via the app and AI, while possibly helping some people to maintain their wellbeing, is no substitute for in-person evidence-based care for those who have more complex mental health needs and for those who need more immediate care or support. Patients are already able to self-refer to the NHS’s main talking therapies programme in England, so we look forward to seeing how these plans result in tangible benefits to patients.”

There are various reasons why skilled medical practitioners are needed: “A highly skilled workforce must be in place to meet such an increase in demand and we know that the NHS is currently unable to meet existing demand. There are concerns that the use of specialist mental health A&Es could widen the divide between physical and mental health care and risk diverting resource and staff away from acute hospitals and community mental health teams. Rigorous evaluation in the form of funded clinical trials should accompany these changes and be used in longer term decision making.”

Molodynski concludes, calling on the government to rethink: “It is crucial that Government commits to funding levels that reflect the true scale of mental health needs for both children and adults – without that these latest reforms risk falling short of delivering the changes that patients and staff desperately need.”