Mental Health Care Becoming A 'Car Crash'

One of the country's leading psychiatrists has slammed the state of mental health care in England, warning that a lack of resources was leading the service into a "car crash".

Professor Sue Bailey, the outgoing president of the Royal College of Psychiatrists, said the situation represented a "crisis" and that treatment for the mentally ill was simply not a priority for the Government.

Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt hit back at the claims, saying he was "proud" of his record in this area.

The Government has pledged "parity" between mental and physical health, but campaigners warn there is a gulf between them at present.

"It's a car crash that we are sleepwalking into," Professor Sue Bailey told the BBC.

"Well, we are not even sleepwalking, we are being driven into it by the way the system is run.

"We need to be getting money for prevention through Public Health England and we need more money for intervention.

"The sums of money that could make a difference are not huge but they could make a large difference."

She claimed Mr Hunt had failed to take up a "great number of offers to go and see mental health services, child services, services for the elderly, innovative projects".

She argued that he had a basic understanding of the field, but the fact that it was not a priority suggested he did not take it seriously.