As a GP who has worked in Mental Health Commissioning for several years, I think there are exciting times ahead, and a chance to make a genuine difference to the health outcomes for people with mental health problems.

There have been a number of major reports over the last five years, most recently the Five Year Forward View for Mental Health, which clearly spell out the problems we are creating by failing to consider mental health equally with physical health. We are also failing to provide physical health care to those people with a serious mental illness and disability in a way that supports them to be as healthy, and live as long, as those without mental ill-health.

Mindsets are changing, driven by these reports and a program of work to develop targets for mental health conditions, just as we have for physical health conditions. However this is a huge issue, one that will need real and meaningful partnerships between all those involved in commissioning, providing and using services. Many areas have started to develop innovative solutions. In Sheffield, where I work, the emphasis is changing from commissioning specific pathways to commissioning care that joins up providers across all sectors. There will always be a need for disease specific pathways; for example, we all want the best possible care if we have a heart attack. However, for people with multiple health problems, particularly mental ill-health, it can be hard to access this care and negotiating several different pathways can be daunting.

Our Local Authority has commissioned Community Support Workers (CSWs). All primary care services, including each General Practice, can refer to a CSW. They assess people and signpost them to wide-ranging services across all health, social care and third sector providers, to improve their health and well-being. For those who need more support to access services, which can be the case for those with mental ill-health, they can offer this. Examples of interventions are: support for patients to apply for benefits they may be entitled to, help to get the best energy deals, help to get to Stop Smoking Clinics, attend gyms and medical appointments.

The aim is to reduce barriers and define a good intervention as something that makes a positive difference for patients. Attending an outpatient appointment could prevent an emergency admission, or diagnose a serious condition early, when it can be treated more effectively.

Together with Experts by Experience, we have designed a template for GPs to use when performing physical health checks for people with serious mental illness. It can be used by anyone who is providing care, whether in a hospital or community setting. As computer systems become more joined up over time, this will allow sharing of information to ensure a person’s physical health needs aren’t overlooked. Other areas have similar initiatives.

It will take time to change things for the better for people with mental Ill -health, but we must. This is an issue for us all, as mental health accounts for 23 per cent of all NHS activity. Over our life course, many of us will be part of that 23 per cent. So mental health truly is everyone’s business.

Dr Karen O’Connor, GP, Sheffield CCG, karen.oconnor1@nhs.uk