Online services feel crunchers’ pain

A dedicated NHS Direct telephone line and more information on NHS Choices will be set up as part of a package of measures to support people affected by the credit crunch.

Health secretary Alan Johnson has said that the government will be investing an extra £13m in services to help unemployed people who are experiencing depression or anxiety to get back to work.

The money will fund a faster roll-out of talking therapy services around the country and enable employment workers to be linked to every talking therapy service, as well as supporting the phone line and the expansion of NHS Choices.

The NHS Direct phone line will be operated by health advisers trained to spot people who might be experiencing depression because of economic problems and able to refer them to help. NHS Choices will provide better online advice and information about the availability of services near to people’s homes.

Primary care trusts will also be encouraged to use £80m of savings made by the NHS due to the temporary reduction in the rate of VAT to commission services such as debt advice and family counselling, where there is a local need.

Johnson said that in the current economic downturn, the potential exists for more people to become anxious or depressed and experience lower levels of mental well-being.

He added: “No one should be left in any doubt about where to turn. That’s why I am going further and faster to make sure that the services are in place to support people affected psychologically by the recession.

“The NHS as a whole will be better equipped to recognise these issues and refer people to appropriate treatment or support.”