Cuts in the budget for mental health services fly in the face of government & NHS promises to treat mental & physical health equally.
A Guardian letter (posted below) from the chief officers of leading mental health organisations reflects the widespread anger felt over ministers, health service leaders, & Monitor (NHS finance regulator) agreeing a 1.8% cut in non-acute care, which includes mental health services. Acute hospital services will undergo a 1.5% cut.
The powers-that-be are seeking to raise £150m to pay make up the shortfall in extra acute hospital staff identified by the Francis Report as a factor in the abject care failure at Stafford. NHS leaders state non-acute service providers do not need to tackle any understaffing simply as Francis did not make such a recommendation - i.e. non-acute services are not yet rubbish enough to 'maintain' budgets.
Given various ministers, David Cameron included, have been categoric in stating staffing must be brought up to safe levels across all NHS care services, even minister for Care & Support, Norman Lamb, views this decision as 'flawed & unacceptable'.
At a time when involuntary admissions continue to record highs; up 4% from 48,600 to 50,400 in 2012; up a profit-making 17% in private hospitals (3,600 to 4,300) in the same year; when at least 1,700 mental health beds have been closed in the last couple of years; with the upward trend in the 21st century suicide rate maintained, is this really the best time to continue hacking & slashing? There's already enough poor management going on: bed shortages mean millions siphoned to the private sector, severely ill patients sent to facilities miles from home & hope, hot-bedding, premature discharge; the Cornish out-of-hours crisis response service consists of 2 nurses & a social worker, providing cover to 500,000 people.
Turning Point chief executive Victor Adebowale, who actually sits on the Board of NHS England, says the decision was not discussed prior to being nodded through. Whilst head of NHS England David Nicholson, who many see as sharing responsibility for the Mid Staffs tragedy, acknowledges (nb: not 'accepts') criticism for the decision-making process but states it will not be reviewed as acute hospitals need more cash to hire nurses to reach minimum safety levels. Peter is most definitely being robbed to pay Paul & unsurprisingly, but worryingly, Lord Adebowale characterises the decision as 'bordering on laughable'.
In the last 2 years overall mental health trust budgets have shrunk in real terms by 2.3%; crisis resolution spend fell 1.7% while referrals rose 16%; community mental health budgets flatlined, but referrals rose 13%. There is no evidence that money saved closing psychiatric beds is being used to boost community mental health services.
Surely government & NHS decision-makers are not depending on us not noticing the glaring disparity between their mis/disinformation & the reality of everyday life. These people are public servants & as such must listen to us, our concerns, our needs, our aspirations. They must be forced to think again...
Mind has launched a petition to ensure mental health services are given their fair share of funding, have a look at what they have to say & sign up HERE
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