Perspectives on mental health services in Milton Keynes

Our mission is simple but powerful: to champion people’s rights and access to high-quality health and social care. We do this by listening to your experiences and making sure they shape the services you rely on.

Mental health touches every part of our lives — from education and employment to relationships and our physical health. Over the past year, we’ve heard from hundreds of residents about their experiences accessing mental health support. Some stories are encouraging. Others are concerning. All of them matter.

What we’re hearing

Waiting lists: a persistent barrier

Long waiting times for mental health support continue to be an issue for many residents. Whether it's accessing talking therapies, CAMHS, or neurodiversity assessments, delays are causing distress and leaving people without the support they need.

Positive feedback on IAPT Services

Residents have reported improved experiences with the Improving Access to Psychological Therapies (IAPT) service. 

Mental health support teams in schools

We’re hearing more from families and educators about Mental Health Support Teams (MHSTs) in schools. The initiative is greatly welcomed, with parents often able to access online introduction sessions with the team. However, we’re hearing that demand seems to be already outstripping supply and waiting lists growing. This service is aimed toward prevention, supporting young people with mild to moderate needs and isn’t able to support young people with moderate to high need, especially those awaiting CAMHS or neurodiversity assessments who are often struggling to access support whilst they wait.

Loss of the Recovery College

One of the most disappointing developments this year has been the closure of the Recovery College in Milton Keynes. Although residents will be able to attend courses, they will now have to travel to Bedfordshire or London. While digital alternatives are available locally, they’re not always appropriate, accessible or a good substitute for everyone.

Group vs. individual therapy

Some mental health treatments are shifting toward group-based therapy models. For some, this works well. For others—especially those with complex or trauma-related needs—individual support is essential. We hope by using a fair balance of both where it is appropriate will help waiting lists for support to come down. 

Digital services

Digital mental health services offer flexibility and convenience, but they can also create barriers. Not everyone is digitally literate, and not every issue can be addressed through a screen. We’re concerned that the push toward digital-first care may unintentionally widen inequalities.

Services moving 'out of place'

We’ve seen a growing trend of services being delivered from services outside of Milton Keynes but within our Integrated Care System, with some Bedfordshire based services now supporting Milton Keynes residents. We’ve had feedback that it’s not always clear how to access these services as an MK resident and the level of support available isn’t always equal.

What we’ve been up to

We’ve been actively submitting your feedback and experiences to the Bedfordshire, Luton and Milton Keynes Integrated Care Board (ICB) to inform their Community Health and Mental Health Transformation Programme. This work aims to improve equity in mental health services across Milton Keynes, Bedfordshire, and Luton in the near future.

We’ve also been reviewing the Lampard Inquiry - an independent statutory inquiry investigating the deaths of mental health inpatients in Essex between 2000 and 2023. Whilst it doesn’t include scrutiny of any services in Milton Keynes, it offers valuable lessons. We’re using its findings to cross reference our local activities and your feedback to help local commissioners and providers understand the risks and challenges raised, that could impact residents here.

In addition, we’ve continued to raise concerns about:

• Access to online information about local support
• Autism support pathways
• The move to digital services, and how this shift can exclude people who need more tailored or face-to-face care

Your voices are shaping the future of mental health care in our area. We’re committed to making sure they’re heard.