Forward view for mental health services

Chris Ham analyses the impact of the new NHS England chief executive, Simon Stevens, in a BMJ editorial. Mental health would seem to be an obvious area for the development of population based budgets, where NHS Trusts, local authorities and CCGs take on responsibility together. NHS Trusts need to take on more of a role in leading improvements and commissioning alone will be insufficient. CCGs need to take responsibility for increasing referrals when there are current financial restraints.