Leading mental health organisations warn new NHS funding cut will put lives at risk
Six of England’s leading mental health organisations have come together today, to warn that a recent decision by NHS England and the health regulator Monitor, to effectively cut funding for mental health services by 20% more than NHS hospital trusts, will put lives at risk.
In a joint letter published today in The Guardian, the CEOs of the organisations and the President of the Royal College of Psychiatrists said the cut ‘completely contravenes the Government’s promise to put mental and physical health care on an equal footing.’
?Following Mid-Staffs, all NHS services are obliged to comply with the Francis Report to improve care and safety for patients. NHS England funded the additional costs of implementing these recommendations, yet they withheld this from mental health services – creating a significant budget shortfall.
In the letter, Rethink Mental Illness, Mind, The Royal College of Psychiatrists, the Mental Health Foundation, the NHS Confederation Mental Health Network and the Centre for Mental Health say the decision sends ‘a disturbing and deeply disappointing message, and is likely to have far-reaching consequences for people with mental illness.’
They also highlight the fact that mental health services are already ‘straining at the seams’ and point out that this decision will cost taxpayers much more in the long term, as it is likely to mean more people will be left to reach crisis point, driving up admissions to A&E and the number of people needing expensive hospital care.
They end with a warning that the strain on services could lead to a repeat of the Mid-Staffs scandal, saying: ‘People died because those in charge failed to respond to repeated warnings that things were going wrong. Let’s not make the same mistake twice. Time is running out and we urge NHS England and Monitor to do the right thing and resolve this issue swiftly.’
It comes on the same day that the charity Rethink Mental Illness has published a report revealing that Early Intervention services, which play a vital role in helping young people recover from psychosis, are struggling to survive in the face of major funding cuts.
Notes to editors:
For more information, contact Rachel Hobbs, Media Manager for Rethink Mental Illness Rachel.hobbs@rethink.org or call 0207 840 3138
For more information about the Early Intervention report, contact brian.semple@rethink.org or call 0207 840 3043
Rethink Mental Illness is a charity that believes a better life is possible for people affected by mental illness. Since 1972 we have brought people together to support each other. We run services and support groups that change people’s lives and challenge attitudes about mental illness. We support almost 60,000 people every year across England to get through crises, live independently and realise they are not alone. We give information and advice to 500,000 more and change policy for millions. For more information go to www.rethink.org
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