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Budget cuts to mental health services could be putting lives at risk
Mark Blunden14 Apr 2010
Millions of pounds being cut from London's mental health services could put patients and staff at risk, campaigners warn today.
It follows the death of a vulnerable man at an in-patient unit run by a trust that wants to slash frontline nurses to save £20 million over three years.
Police launched a murder investigation after Prodip Debnath was found dead in his bed at Mile End Hospital, where East London NHS Foundation Trust runs a unit.
A post-mortem examination revealed Mr Debnath, 31, died of multiple head, chest and abdominal injuries. Another patient, a 20-year-old man also said to be high risk, was arrested on suspicion of murder and bailed to a secure hospital.
The trust refused to say if it was fully staffed at the time of Mr Debnath's death on Friday.
Confidential documents reveal a package of £9 million immediate cuts from its £185 million annual budget. This includes £2 million by losing the equivalent of some 60 nurses on acute wards treating the most vulnerable patients, changing shift patterns and cutting £1 million from medical and therapy budgets.
The trust has nearly 18,000 patients in Hackney, Newham, Tower Hamlets and the City of London. The documents warn: “Cost savings across the wards would bring consequences.”
Dr John Lister, director of London Health Emergency, said: “Weakening the nursing care these patients receive is a very dangerous gamble and acute wards are already quite difficult environments. All the evidence shows that if you're not in a position to put in a substantial therapeutic input then it becomes a situation of crowd control.”
Jay Williams from Unison said: “The union has concerns that there are not enough nursing staff working at the Trust and changing shift patterns and extending the high-risk night shift will make staff more vulnerable.”
A trust spokeswoman said: “The Trust is exploring a range of options to achieve the savings required whilst prioritising the safety and quality of care delivered to people with mental health difficulties. The Trust is committed to the safety and wellbeing of its service users and its workforce.”
Mental health services are some of the worst affected as NHS London seeks £5 billion savings — and still encourage more people to seek therapy.
Trusts are further strained by the recession causing more stress, and depression, plus soldiers suffering post-traumatic stress disorder.
Lambeth primary care trust wants to cut £9.5 million over four years from its “serious mental illness” services.
Southwark PCT will reduce its budget by £3.9 million this year. Hundreds of temporary and agency staff at Camden and Islington NHS Foundation Trust were also axed in a bid to save £100,000 a week.
Reader views (4)
What happened is an absolute disgrace - this certainly will be taken further. Ultimatley the Trust is at fault here but additionally the staff on duty must be also held accountable. The circumstances surrounding Prodip's death are uncomprehendable - a man was brutally tortured and murdered, yet no staff investigated his screams!! How can this happen??
This will not be brushed under the carpet, we will ensure that the public know about this and the TRust learn from it.
- SD, Coventry, 18/04/2010 16:51
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Check out the website eastlondonmentalhealth.com. East London NHS Foundation Trust employs over 90 senior managers and only 15 of them have any contact with patients or families yet they still insist on cutting front line services! Peter Barnaby is right and Prodip's family and friends should contact their MP and insist on a public inquiry.
- Joseph Bear, London, 15/04/2010 22:01
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This NHS foundation Trust is rotton to the core. The senior managers should all be sacked and the board members should hang their heads in shame and resign.
- Peter Barnaby, East London, 15/04/2010 21:40
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RIP Prodip. You will be greatly missed.
- Purkayastha, London, 15/04/2010 00:29
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