§ Baroness Finlay of Llandaffasked Her Majesty's Government:
Why the National Service Framework for Mental Health does not include physiotherapy as a core service, despite the evidence of benefit from specialist physiotherapy to outcomes in mental health patients and its designation as a core service in the National Service Framework for Older People. [HL5685]
§ Lord Hunt of Kings HeathThe NSF for mental health emphasises the importance of a multi-disciplinary approach to care and treatment. However, it is not prescriptive about the numbers of different professionals needed. Instead, it emphasises the outcomes to be achieved, and the importance of evidence based practice. We know that people with severe mental illness may be at particular risk of physical ill health and Standard One (mental health promotion) the MHNSF states that "Exercise,228WA relaxation and stress management have a beneficial effect on mental health." The mental health Policy Implementation Guide (2001) also indicates that the evidence base supports the encouragement of regular exercise on a population-wide basis in the context of mental health promotion.