14.11.12
Schizophrenia costs society almost £12bn a year
People with schizophrenia are still being “badly let down” by the healthcare system, a new report suggests. The Schizophrenia Commission has published its conclusions, following a year-long inquiry into the condition.
The report shows that people with schizophrenia still die 15-20 years earlier than people without, and the cost to society is estimated at £11.8bn a year.
One in 10 people with schizophrenia who could benefit from Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) do not get access to it, the commission found. Additionally only 8% of people with the condition are in employment, despite many being willing and able to work.
The commission has made 42 recommendations to improve care and understanding around schizophrenia, including a “radical” overhaul of poor acute care units, greater partnership and shared decision making with service users, better prescribing, extending GP training in mental illness, extended Early Intervention for Psychosis services, more access to psychological therapies, a stronger focus on prevention, greater use of personal budgets and better support for long-term carers.
Professor Sir Robin Murray, chair of the commission, said: “The message that comes through loud and clear is that people are being badly let down by the system in every area of their lives.
“We now need to make sure everyone is offered the treatments that we know work best, delivered with kindness and competence. If we can achieve this, then together we can make the next decade one of increasing recovery for people diagnosed as having schizophrenia or psychosis.”
Paddy Cooney, interim director of the NHS Confederation's Mental Health Network, called it an “important report” and added: “Improving the health and care of people with schizophrenia will require real progress in the kinds of treatments and therapies we provide, and greater joint working to improve the access service users have to wider NHS services.
“The Commission reiterates that the most successful interventions occur when people play an active role in shaping their own care plans to achieve the outcomes important to them, and where carers are closely involved.”
The report is at: www.schizophreniacommission.org.uk/the-report/
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