We respond to news that share of NHS spending on mental health is set to decline again
12 March 2026
The health secretary Wes Streeting announced in parliament today that the share of NHS spending on mental health is projected to decline again in 2026/27.
Brian Dow, Deputy Chief Executive of Rethink Mental Illness, said:
“We’re concerned that parity between mental and physical health remains under threat, with today’s announcement confirming that the share of NHS spending on mental health is projected to decline for the second year running.
“We welcome the overall increase in funding, alongside capital investment in innovations such as community mental health hubs and specialist emergency departments. However, mental health still receives just 8% of NHS funding despite accounting for around 20% of the disease burden. It is people experiencing mental ill-health who ultimately pay the price, with huge numbers stuck waiting months, sometimes years, for care and treatment, putting them at risk of crisis, hospitalisation and lost livelihoods.
“Improving the nation's mental health isn't all about funding, but it is vital to improving services, strengthening the workforce and delivering innovation. The government committed to parity between mental and physical health in its manifesto, yet it has weakened safeguards protecting mental health funding and has not set out a clear plan to bring down waiting lists. We must see a reversal in this trend, with mental health given the priority it deserves."