Mary O'Hara on why psychiatrists are concerned about 'risks' posed by NHS reforms

NHS reforms have transformed mental health services and been broadly popular. Now a group of psychiatrists says patients are being put at risk, reigniting the debate about what works. Mary O'Hara reports Changes to NHS mental health provision have been politically motivated, claims an article in the Journal of Psychiatry. Photograph: Jose Luis Pelaez/Corbis A group of psychiatrists protesting about their profession being devalued by the NHS wouldn't usually attract much attention, but an article in last week's British Journal of Psychiatry has triggered serious concern among other mental health professionals and some service users. Co-authored by 36 psychiatrists, the piece argued that the government's New Ways of Working policy - which was introduced in 2005 and established "multi-disciplinary" mental health teams... [read full story]