Michelle Moran Manchester Mental Health & Social Care Trust (Photo Guardian Newspaper PLC)
Last week Manchester Users Network (MUN) on behalf of it’s members , Services Users, and Carer’s issued the following letter which was sent to Secretary of State for Health The Rt. Hon. Jeremy Hunt MP and to the Chief Executive of Manchester Mental Health & Social Care Trust Michelle Moran.
The letter also included David Cameron, Prime Minister. Norman Lamb MP, Minister of State for Care and Support. Ed Miliband MP Leader of the opposition. Andy Burnham MP, Shadow Minister for Health.
Secretary of State for Health The Rt. Hon. Jeremy Hunt MP
The letter addresses the concerns many in Manchester have for patients suffering from a mental health illness, it says ” Manchester Mental Health & Social Care Trust, cannot provide Services in order to treat patients who suffer from “severe & enduring mental illness”.
The letter states because the Manchester Mental Health Trust “is putting them at serious and dangerous risk, such as their physical health, their absolute poverty (e.g. homelessness, starvation, hardship etc), as well as their need for formal in-patient services and suicide or other premature death.”
The letter also refers to ‘Discharges’ disguised within the new terminology as “stepping down”, which GPs, and the DWP assume patients are now cured from “severe & enduring mental illness”.
The letter goes on to point out that If a common criminal is convicted by the Criminal Justice System, he or she is adequately clothed and fed unlike the mentally ill person who is denied the necessary basic living benefits.
Service Users and Care’s also state their gravest concern are for patients between the ages of 50-65 who have been receiving treatment for 20 to 30 years or more, who are being discharged and their needs have in no way changed.
MUN and representatives of the public health union Unison, recently held a public demonstration in Manchester, which highlighted the effects of cuts upon those who suffer a mental health illness in Manchester . Elton Darlo, who is well known for painting the homeless and rough sleepers of Manchester allowed his artwork to be used to promote the Valentines Day event .
Well known Manchester artist Elton Darlo allows Unison to use his art in a Manchester campaign.
The terrible effects that cuts and changes to the welfare system are already having on those suffering from a mental illness is becoming recognisable by members of the public who are seeing a large increase in the amount of people ending up living on the streets of Manchester, many suffering from poor mental health or have a diagnosed mental health condition. Patients who have been stepped down are now at risk of being sanctioned if they fail to meet the governments new rules on claiming Universal Credit, this has lead to patients loosing benefits .
Manchester Users Network,
SERVICE USERS OFFICE,
PARK HOUSE HOSPITAL,
DELAUNAYS ROAD,
MANCHESTER, M8 5RB.
TEL: 0161-918-4343
25th February, 2015
To: Michelle Moran, Chief Executive, Trust Headquarters, Chorlton House, 70 Manchester Road, Chorlton-cum-Hardy, Manchester M21 9UN,
&
The R.t Hon Jeremy Hunt MP, Secretary of State for Health, Department of Health, Richmond House 79 Whitehall, Westminster, London, SW1A 2NL
Dear Michelle Moran and the Rt. Hon Jeremy Hunt MP,
Because of the very drastic cuts by the NHS and Manchester City Council, it is quite obvious to Service Users, Carers and other members of the public that Manchester Mental Health & Social Care Trust, cannot provide Services in order to treat patients who suffer from “severe & enduring mental illness”, which is putting them at serious and dangerous risk, such as their physical health, their absolute poverty (e.g. homelessness, starvation, hardship etc), as well as their need for formal in-patient services and suicide or other premature death.
Discharges disguised within the new terminology as “stepping down”, which GPs, and the DWP assume patients are now cured from “severe & enduring mental illness”, which by all and sundry in Manchester, are aware this is a completely disingenuous action due to the severe cuts in the services. Patients who are stepped down are assessed via a “Work Capability Assessment” (WCA), which is a grossly unfair system, and deems patients fit for work by under qualified professionals who are not appropriately familiar of their condition or history. Thousands in the country have committed suicide, with a hundred members of the public per day, suffering with mental illness, having their benefits sanctioned, forcing them to walk the streets, living rough and being destitute. If a common criminal is convicted by the Criminal Justice System, he or she is adequately clothed and fed unlike the mentally ill person who is denied the necessary basic living benefits.
Our gravest concern are for patients between the ages of 50-65 who have been receiving treatment for 20 to 30 years or more, who are being discharged and their needs have in no way changed.
As members of the Manchester Public, we strongly appeal that people with mental illness whose circumstances and needs have not changed and are discharged(Stepped Down), because MMH&SCT and Manchester City Council due to lack of resources, are totally unable to treat and meet patients needs. A letter should be sent to their GPs with a copy to the Patient stating their circumstances and Mental Health needs regarding their Severe & Enduring Mental illness have not changed.
This would certainly help to reduce early premature deaths, protecting patients benefits, without which, many would starve and end up being penurious. It would also give patients the option to find another mental health Service to meet their needs via their GP or “Individual Budget”
Yours faithfully,
PAUL REED M40 INT,
ALAN HARTMAN, M8 5FB,
J. Mc NUFF, P. Mc NUFF, M8 5FB,
H. ADELMAN M8 8UL.
SHATSMAN M8 5FB,
N.HOWARD,
A. VALENTINE M8 5SL,
L.WELLER M8,
S. TELZER M25,
D.J. COHEN M8 4GU,
JOHN BANKS M9 8EY,
K.LEE M8 5UJ,
S. J.BELL M40 3TH,
R.J. Mc GANNITY M24 IBL,
P. SMITH M9 5XJ,
M.BURKE M9 8DY,
GEORGE HOWE M40 3SS,
FREDA SHOVLIN M4 5LB,
ANGELA MEEK M9 4LR,
WAYNE Mc DONALD M12 4AH,
ALLISON CURTIS, M35 OFU,
CHRISTINE CURTIS M9,
S. COPPEL M8 OAY,
R.TELZER M25, J.ATKINSON M22 5DH.
Courtesy Copies were included in this letter and also sent to the following :
CCs :-
David Cameron, Prime Minister.
Norman Lamb MP, Minister of State for Care and Support.
Ed Miliband MP Leader of the opposition.
Andy Burnham MP, Shadow Minister for Health.
Luciana Berger MP, Shadow Minister for Public Health.
All local Manchester MPs.
Sir Richard Leese, leader of Manchester City Council.
Cllr Paul Andrews, Executive Member of Adult and Wellbeing
David Behan, Chief Executive of the Care Quality Commission.
Manchester Clinical Commissioning Groups, Link, Nick Gomm.
Services Users, and Carer’s issued the following letter concerning Manchester mental health to Secretary of State for Health The Rt. Hon. Jeremy Hunt MP added by manchesterusersnetwork on
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