RCN fears over mental health cuts

Published: 10 October 2012

Improvements in mental health care could be jeopardised by cuts to services, the Royal College of Nursing has said.

Speaking on World Mental Health (10 October), Dr Peter Carter, RCN Chief Executive & General Secretary, said poor mental health had a wide-ranging impact on individuals, their work and their family lives.

He stressed the difference mental health services could make to people’s lives but said many services were “feeling the pinch” because of NHS savings.

“Mental health nurses are telling us that hastily implemented changes are jeopardising the improvements which have been made over the last 10 years,” he said.

“Proposed cuts could result in a loss of around 90 posts at Northumberland, Tyne and Wear Mental Health Trust and a loss of 40 posts from community mental health teams in North Staffordshire Combined Healthcare NHS Trust.”

Dr Carter said that Mind, the mental health charity, had reported a 100 per cent increase in calls to its advice service since the recession, indicating support and advice for people experiencing mental health problems are currently more important than ever.

“Despite this, services up and down the country are losing their funding and struggling to survive due to budget cuts,” Dr Carter said.

“We would urge the Government to ensure that continued investment is made so that people with mental health problems get the help they need and which we know improves many lives.”