The Next Stage Review of the NHS

Created: 2008-06-30 13:31:54

Today Marjorie Wallace, Chief Executive of SANE, commented on Lord Darzi’s Next Stage Review of the NHS

"SANE is encouraged that mental health is included among the areas highlighted for health prevention and promotion. We have concerns, however, that in this emphasis on wellbeing, the complex needs of people with ongoing and relapsing conditions such as schizophrenia and depression might be given less priority.

"Overall, we welcome the focus on individual needs rather than targets, and the proposal that people should not be discriminated against on the grounds of their mental health. This is the closest we have yet got to the positive rights to care and treatment for people with mental illness that we, and others, have campaigned for."

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For more information, please contact the SANE media department on 020-7422 5556 (or 07718 735121 out of hours)

Notes for Editors:

To donate to SANE, or for more information on the work we do, please visit our website at www.sane.org.uk.

SANE is a leading national mental health charity with the three aims of:

 Raising awareness and respect for people with mental illness and their families and securing better services

 Undertaking research into the causes of serious mental illness through The Prince of Wales International Centre for SANE Research

 Providing help and information to those experiencing mental health problems, their families and carers through SANEline and SANEmail.

SANEline is a national out-of-hours telephone helpline offering emotional support and information for people affected by mental health problems. It is open from 6pm to 11pm every day of the year, including the Christmas and New Year period, on 0845 767 8000. SANEmail, SANE’s new email support service, runs alongside our national helpline to provide an additional channel of support to those affected by mental health issues. It can be contacted at sanemail@sane.org.uk.