A day-long public inquiry is to be held into the crisis facing Manchester’s mental health services – after we revealed the savage cuts facing frontline services.
Manchester Mental Health and Social Care Trust admits it is ‘no longer viable as an independent organisation’ after its finances passed the point of no return.
Cuts to Manchester’s mental health services will ’cause more deaths’, warned a local patient support group as they lobbied outside the Town Hall yesterday.
Manchester Users Network, a support system for patients accessing psychiatric services, lobbied ahead of a health scrutiny meeting that took place after a devastating £7million worth of cuts to its services.
It is reported that Manchester Mental Health and Social Care Trust will be abolished, as its financial position has become untenable.
Plans to cut £1.5m from mental health services in Manchester have been debated by councillors.
Manchester Mental Health and Social Care Trust has planned the savings, which would affect 664 patients not considered to be at high risk.
Support for people suffering conditions including chronic fatigue, depression and sexual problems could be withdrawn.
Paul Reed, of the Manchester Users Network, said one reason occupational-type therapies are so important is that patients are continuously seen by staff while there.
He said he had never had such a response from patients over any issue.
Referring to Karen Reissmann, the MHSC nurse who was sacked four years ago after speaking out against cuts within the trust, he said: “She has been proved right.
“If this is approved, it is going to be terrible for people.”
It dawned on me that I had forgotten ‘Get-Well-Soon’ cards existed, indeed the idea of ‘getting well’ eerily perplexed me. The concept of recovery is cataclysmically different in mental health, as there seems to be no tangible end point.
The chief inspector of hospitals has told Manchester Mental Health and Social Care Trust that it must do better following a watchdog inspection.
Overall the trust has been rated as requiring improvement by the Care Quality Commission.
A report highlights safety issues, the need for better leadership, and low morale among staff.
The heartbroken parents of a 26-year-old man are demanding answers after he was discharged from hospital just 20 days before taking his life.
Vicar Tony Hardy and his wife Helen said their world had been left devastated after their son, James, hanged himself – but claim Manchester Mental Health and Social Care Trust discharged their son without adequate support.
MANCHESTER USERS NETWORK INFORMATION MEETING Wednesday 14th October 2015 Time, 1.30pm. Important Information, rights & news for patients!
As part of the discussion and for a later date to be proposed; that employees of the Trust and other employees or other mental health organisations, should have a “Conscience Clause” in their contract. The advantage therein, to diminish and expose unethical decisions, such as discharging ill patients, ill treatment, stepping down patients for financial reasons and diminishing the fear of sacking employees, because of whistle blowing etc.
A team of healthcare professionals are stepping into the spotlight to raise awareness of young people’s mental health and emotional wellbeing.
The staff from Healthy Minds will perform a play in Rochdale town centre on Saturday October 10 to break the stigma attached to mental health.
