Purchasing power: getting the best for older people

Abstract

At first glance, commissioning mental health may look like a heart-sink project, but it need not be. In fact, the opposite may be true. This report argues that consistent application of a long-term strategy, which allows the accumulation of small changes across agencies and disciplines, is likely to be the key to success. It sets out the issues that need to be addressed, the pitfalls to avoid, and examines a series of objectives for commissioners.