Labour calls for greater mental health funding in Suffolk

More funding is needed to help people suffering with mental ill health, Labour says Archant

Labour has joined calls demanding more money be made available for mental health services in Suffolk, warning that reported cuts of £200,000 will have “severe consequences” for sufferers in the county.

Share Email this article to a friend To send a link to this page you must be logged in.

The Campaign to Save Mental Health Services in Norfolk and Suffolk hold a silent protest outside the county council offices, in Russell Road Ipswich ahead of a Health Scrutiny Committee meeting in 2014. The Campaign to Save Mental Health Services in Norfolk and Suffolk hold a silent protest outside the county council offices, in Russell Road Ipswich ahead of a Health Scrutiny Committee meeting in 2014.

Sarah Adams, Labour’s health spokeswoman, said the cuts in provision were “disappointing to the extreme” and urged for mental health to be at the forefront of the NHS.

Her comments come after Healthwatch Suffolk reported the withdrawal of £200,000 of funding meant the Norfolk and Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust (NSFT) was to curtail its psychiatric liaison services (PLS) in hospitals “without warning or consultation”.

“We are concerned that this change has been implemented with little notice and that it has been expressed to us that patient experience is likely to be affected,” a spokesman said. “We are also wary about the capacity of other NSFT teams to adequately cover the work of the psychiatric liaison team.”

Ms Adams said the cuts would mean a reduction of hours, staff and services in Suffolk’s hospitals at a time when there was growing use of anti-depressants, linked with difficulties accessing mental health care.

Sarah Adams Sarah Adams

“Mental health issues – such as depression and anxiety – are still misunderstood and under-diagnosed, yet better diagnosis shows they are becoming more and more prevalent and stigma on the decrease,” she said.

“Mental health care can no longer be considered a ‘Cinderella service’. It must be at the forefront of our NHS and Public Health service. We need prevention and care now.”

A spokesman for NHS Ipswich and East Suffolk and NHS West Suffolk clinical commissioning groups (CCGs) said the organisations were “fully committed to ensuring people have full and appropriate access to good mental health services at the point of need”.

He said the decision to reduce operating hours of PLS was made in conjunction with NSFT “recognising there will be minimal impact on patient care and that patient needs will still be effectively met. Like other NHS organisations both locally and nationally, the CCGs face increasing financial pressures. However, we will continue to work with NSFT, our health and social care partners and service users to commission and deliver safe and effective mental health services,” he added.

Alison Armstrong, director of operations for Suffolk at NSFT, said: “We receive funding based on the services that we are commissioned to provide by each CCG. We would always welcome additional funding but appreciate funding is not infinite. We continue to work with commissioners and other providers to try and protect mental health services for patients as we are committed to providing the best care possible.”