Deep Cuts in Local Mental Health Service

“A betrayal of trust” – Robert Key MP

Salisbury MP Robert Key says the £2.5million cuts to or local mental health services are a betrayal of trust by the Labour Government. “People with mental health problems are very vulnerable. They will be hit very hard.”

Robert Key will have a crisis meeting with the Chairman of the Avon and Wiltshire Mental Health Partnership NHS trust on Friday and he will meet the Chief Executive of the Avon, Gloucestershire and Wiltshire Strategic Health Authority on January 7th. Robert will raise the crisis in the House of Commons this week.

He said, “The new multi-million pound Grovely ward at Fountain Way (the former Old Manor site), opened in May 2003 will close. Beds for elderly patients will be cut and all staff recruitment will be frozen.

“Those responsible have no shortage of people to blame, depending on who they work for. Some have told me they blame the overspending by large hospitals in Bath and Bristol. Others blame the old Wiltshire Health Authority for commissioning Fountain Way in the first place. Our local Primary Care Trust says they realise they have been overspending per head of population and this must stop.

“Mental Health professionals have told me that cutting £2.5 million in one year is very unwise and any cuts should be phased. Patients will suffer.

“Our PCT says they have placed too much emphasis on hospital services and we must rely more on GPs and community services. But resources for primary health services have only had a modest increase – so it is still a £2 million plus cut, which ever way you look at it”.

Robert Key said, “We are all deeply grateful to doctors and nurses, the support staff and the administrators who deliver superb health care for us in spite of these hugely damaging cuts and draconian management decisions. Tony Blair’s boast “24 hours to save the NHS” has a very hollow ring in Salisbury this week.”