Mental health groups have attacked plans to allow mental health trusts to bid for foundation trust status later this year just a week after the Healthcare Commission slammed their poor performance.

The Mental Health Foundation said the government should focus on improving the poorest services.

Meanwhile, Rethink has criticised the government for "killing off" mental health targets from its new national standards for 2005-8.

The 2000 NHS Plan set a target of 2004 for all service users to be able to access crisis resolution services any time and for young people experiencing initial psychosis to receive the support they need. Under the new plan, these targets have been moved to 2005 and 2006. A third, to create women-only day centres in every health authority, has been scrapped.