Mental health cuts ‘put lives at risk’, says report

The review found that there was ‘wide spread evidence of poor quality care’.

Researchers criticised the use of unproven, cheaper services which are being employed in order to balance the books, while former services are ‘disappearing’ and potentially risking lives.

In particular, the study outlined problems where there was increasing evidence of inadequate support for those with severe problems. Figures showed only 14 per cent of patients had reported receiving appropriate care in a crisis, while hospital bed occupancy rates were regularly exceeding recommended levels, resulting in patients being diverted to units many miles from their home.

The King’s Fund arrived at its conclusion by examining official data and previous research, as well as conducting its own analysis. It warned that the changes enabled to help trusts cope with reduced funding represents a ‘leap in the dark’ because there is little evidence showing the new schemes will be successful.

New initiatives include the merging of specialist teams which deal with crisis situations and those that provide early access to psychosis services, into generic community teams, which are not always equipped to deal with the demands being placed on them.

The report also found more than two-thirds of mental health trusts were or had recently overhauled services. Of those, more than half had plans to reduce staffing levels or the skills mix in its workforce.

A quarter were aiming to use less qualified staff, by replacing nursing with volunteers and support workers and more than 10 per cent said they would be further reducing bed numbers

Report author Helen Gilburt said: "Trusts have looked to move care from the hospital to the community focusing on self-management and recovery. Few would dispute the intention and rationale for this - the problems arise with the scale and pace of the changes which lack the necessary checks to evaluate their effectiveness and the impact on patient care."

Stephen Dalton, chief executive of the NHS Confederation's Mental Health Network, claimed there was a ‘yawning gap between the rhetoric and reality when it comes to mental health policy in England’.

He said: ”The problem is mental health policy in England has become a spectator sport with everybody from the prime minister to NHS England standing on the sidelines talking about what should happen, whilst local services actually aren't seeing any new funding and in fact are being cut.

"And that together with cuts to social care is resulting in the most dreadful stories and experiences for people who are very vulnerable and in need of services."

However, ministers maintained that the overall amount of money being made available for mental health had been increased. Compared to last year, overall funding has increased by £300 million to £11.7 billion. Furthermore, ministers pointed out that various improvements were being made, including the the introduction of waiting-time targets, intended to achieve a ‘parity of esteem’ between mental and physical health services.

Care Minister Alistair Burt added: "We have made great strides in the way that we think about and treat mental health in this country. We have made it clear that local NHS services must follow our lead by increasing the amount they spend on mental health and making sure beds are always available.

"But as well as providing care for those in crisis, it is right that we invest in helping people early on so they can avoid that crisis and manage their conditions with support at home rather than in hospital."

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