In a new episode of the Voices of Care podcast from Newcross Healthcare — a platform dedicated to amplifying voices across the health and social care sector — host Suhail Mirza sat down with Rebekah Cresswell, CEO of Priory, to discuss the UK’s escalating mental health crisis.
In a wide-ranging discussion about the mental health and adult social care sector, Cresswell shared insights from Priory - which supports 26,000 people each year as the UK’s largest independent provider of mental health and adult social care services.
Cresswell said: “There is a staggering figure that one in four people have a mental health problem each year – that is all of us affected.”
Cresswell emphasised the need for improved integration between the NHS, independent healthcare providers and the adult social care sector, as a critical step towards alleviating the UK’s mental health crisis.
She said: "The independent sector has a vital role to play - investing in specialist environments and workforce training on behalf of the NHS and the people of the UK.
“The key is understanding the best way to spend taxpayers' money, and secure the highest quality, most cost-effective care for the people who need specialist support.”
Cresswell, highlighted how areas of specialist expertise developed by independent providers can add value to the NHS, referencing Priory’s investment into developing specialist support services for autistic adults and adults with learning difficulties.
Cresswell said: “The proportion of the population diagnosed as autistic in England has grown significantly over recent years and autistic adults are more likely than non-autistic adults to experience mental ill health and require mental health services. Hospital environments are not the best place for autistic people, so Priory has been developing single-occupancy, purpose-built therapeutic units within hospital settings to provide personalised environments for those who need them most.
“Known as bespoke therapeutic placements, or BTPs, they reduce anxiety and distress, promoting recovery, and significantly reducing length of stay, whilst serving as stepping stones to supported living or residential care.
“We also created a number of years ago, a unique new role known as an assessment and transition director whose role involves beginning discharge planning for autistic patients and people with learning disabilities from the moment of admission, to ensure we can support people in community settings more quickly.”
Cresswell explained that the independent sector’s specialist expertise demonstrates how it can lead the way in developing innovative new models of healthcare, improving outcomes for patients.
“The independent sector can be more agile than the NHS usually, for various reasons. The impact of our autism pathway work is that, last year alone, 27 patients transitioned through BTPs, contributing to a goal of reducing hospital stays from 5 years to 18 months,” she said.
Created to give a platform to those shaping the future of care, the Voices of Care podcast explores the biggest challenges facing the sector while spotlighting inspiring stories of innovation and leadership.
Mirza said: “Rebekah Cresswell is one of the most well-known and respected leaders across the healthcare sector in the UK and Priory has been delivering innovative care across health and social care for many years. As the host of Newcross Healthcare’s Voices of Care podcast, I am honoured to have had Rebekah join us and share her wisdom and insights at this critical moment for both the NHS and social care.”
In the podcast, Cresswell voiced strong support for a National Care Service, while emphasising that its success would depend on meaningful collaboration with private providers who understand the landscape.
“I do support a National Care Service,” she said. “I personally champion care as a career for social care. It’s also really important that the government takes on the views of big social care providers because we can see across the whole landscape for them; we can help to set those standards.”
In the discussion, Cresswell called on the government to urgently increase funding to local authorities to protect the health and social care system.
"It's an imperative. How a society cares for and supports people who are vulnerable says a lot about it. The working age adult social care sector is completely reliant on the local authority funding and is distinct from older people’s care. We must ensure funders provide adequate financial support to cover the true cost of care,” she said.
“Without urgent fee uplifts, all providers will continue to struggle to operate sustainable services and homes are at risk of closure.”
Mirza said the impact of increased National Insurance contributions would particularly impact smaller care providers. He suggested some “will absolutely not be able to weather this storm, while local authorities can't necessarily compensate them".
Cresswell explained the impact of care home closures due to funding issues. "These are real people's lives. A resident might have lived in a home for 20 years, feeling very safe and living a wonderful life with their team there supporting them,” she said. “That is what's at stake here by not funding care properly. People will lose their homes and it becomes a safeguarding issue.”
ENDS
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About Priory and MEDIAN Group
Priory is the UK’s largest independent provider of mental health and adult social care services. Priory treats more than 70 conditions, including depression, anxiety, addictions and eating disorders, as well as children’s mental health, across its nationwide network of sites. Priory also supports autistic adults and adults with a learning disability, Prader-Willi Syndrome and brain injuries, as well as older people, within specialist residential care and supported living facilities – helping as many people as possible to live their lives.
Priory is part of the MEDIAN Group, the leading European provider of high-quality mental health and rehabilitation services. The MEDIAN Group comprises: Priory in the UK with 280 facilities and 5,000 beds caring for 28,000 people, MEDIAN in Germany with 120 facilities and 18,000 beds caring for 256,000 patients, and Hestia in Spain with 14 facilities and 2,000 beds caring for 10,000 people in Spain, with more than 30,000 employees across the group.