Say NO to mental health cuts in Hertfordshire!
The Petition
As a result of the financial problems across Hertfordshire, the local mental health trust has been instructed to find cuts worth 5% of its budget, even though it has managed to work within its budget since its inception. These cuts will have a devastating effect on clients, carers and the morale of the staff, who have been working together to improve local services.
The disillusionment that people feel is immense. While the NHS is talking of user centred care and meaningful involvement in service commissioning, the reality felt by those at the frontline is much different. Mismanagement, GP and consultant wages or any other excuse does not matter to a person who desperately needs the support that may well save their life.
We ask you to oppose the cuts on the following grounds:
1. The proposed cuts would significantly increase the distress of service users and carers; increase the risk of self-harm, suicide and harm to others from people who are acutely unwell yet unsupported.
2. The proposed cuts are financially inept. By reducing the provision of community services, psychological services and early intervention, more people will become acutely unwell. This is highly expensive and will actually increase the financial burden on the NHS.
3. The proposed closure of St. Julians acute inpatient unit is NOT in line with Investing in your Mental Health. The reduction of acute beds is only possible as a by-product of effective community services rather than as a precursor to their development.
4. It is fundamentally wrong to punish an NHS Trust that has performed well in its financial management. How can there be any motivation to break even if a Trust will be forced to cut services by 5%
5. The proposed cuts contradict the plans set out and agreed by Primary Care Trusts and Hertfordshire County Council within the Investing in your Mental Health consultation.
6. By reducing support available to people, the likelihood of financial and employment problems increase. As recovery times increase, people are much more unlikely to return to work and will find it extremely difficult to get out of the revolving door. The impact this can have on service users and their families can be substantial.
1 in 4 of us experience mental health problems at some point in our lives so if these cuts don\'t affect you, they will affect your friends and family.
Please add your support by signing this petition.
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