A LANCASHIRE health chief has welcomed extra funding for mental health services, saying it recognises the challenges faced by NHS Trusts.

The NHS plans to invest a further £120million over the next two years in England, and has announced a five-year ambition for new waiting times standards and early intervention services, helping to put mental health on an equal footing with physical health services.

Heather Tierney-Moore, chief executive at Lancashire Care NHS Foundation Trust, the county’s mental health trust, said: “On behalf of the trust I am delighted by the recent announcement by NHS England to invest additional funding into mental health services.

“This recognises the challenges faced by mental health organisations in supporting service users to be able to access the right treatment at the right time.

“The Trust has already taken steps to improve access to its services but clearly there is always more that can be done and this funding will help to support this.

“The Trust will be working closely with its commissioners to ensure that the funding will be used where it will realise the greatest benefit for people with mental health needs.”