THE CHIEF executive of Warrington’s mental health care provider has welcomed Jeremy Corbyn’s creation of a dedicated minister for mental health.

The new Labour party leader announced on Monday that he would appoint Luciana Berger to the new role in his shadow cabinet.

Simon Barber, the chief executive of Five Boroughs Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, has backed Corbyn’s move, saying that it demonstrated a ‘real commitment’ to supporting people with mental health problems.

He said: “The trust very much welcomes the creation of a minister for mental health as part of Jeremy Corbyn’s shadow cabinet and supports the appointment of Liverpool Wavertree MP Luciana Berger, who has long been a supporter of promoting awareness of mental health in the quest for parity of esteem working closely with the Positive Practice Mental Health Collaborative.

“This new dedicated mental health role demonstrates a real commitment to supporting people with mental ill health in the same way as those with physical health conditions.

“This is good news for our trust, staff, service users, their families and carers.

“I would hope that both major parties will continue to raise the profile of mental health services, building on the work Alistair Burt, minister of state for community and social care, has done since the Mental Health Crisis Care Concordat was published last year.”