04 June 2004
The government's mental health czar, Louis Appleby, has been given extended powers to cover services for older people and for children and adolescents.
Appleby, the national director for mental health, is to oversee research and delivery of mental health programmes, in consultation with the National Institute for Clinical Excellence and programme governance boards.
He said: 'I want to ensure that the improvement that has happened in adult mental health services also happens for children and older people.'
Health minister Rosie Winterton said Appleby's extended role would help move age-based service provision to one based on individual needs.
PFjun2004