Mental health services will see a "surge" in people seeking care as lockdown eases, a new report has predicted. Most of these services have not been scaled back during Covid-19 - unlike other areas of the NHS.
A report by NHS Providers, which represents NHS organisations, praised the way organisations have responded to the pandemic but warned of additional pressures in the weeks and months ahead.
Mental health providers are already beginning to report a "significant increase in demand and the severity" of patients seeking help, the report states.
Labour's shadow minister for mental health urged the government to take action now backing NHS Providers' calls for a strategic national plan.