Mental health trust in special measures

Posted: May 2, 2015

Posted in: Medical Negligence 

In a report just published, it has been highlighted that mental health care provision by the Norfolk and Suffolk Foundation Trust is “not a safe service”.  The report was published by the Care Quality Commission, and as a result, the trust has become the first of its kind to be put in special measures.

In a report by Marcus Hayward, locality operations manager of the NSFT, it is stated that “The increase in referrals is putting pressure on community services and resulting in higher caseload levels, waiting times and unallocated caseloads”.  He then adds: “The high referral rate has also reduced capacity to provide ongoing monitoring and crises prevention”. 

“funding is needed and demand has increased”

There has been a 38% increase in referrals of people requiring mental health care in the December 2014 to February 2015 period compared to April to June 2014.  There has also been an increase in the number of patients not allocated a care worker at the trust.  The number of cases referred rose from 662 to 960 in the period between November 2014 and January 2015.

The report also states that while general hospitals in the two counties have been awarded a 15% increase since 2010, funding in the mental health sector has fallen by 3%.  The trust manages a number of Section 136 suites, which are maintained for accommodating people detained by the police under the Mental Health Act for their own and others’ safety.  Speaking on behalf of the Campaign to Save Mental Health Services in Norfolk and Suffolk, a spokesman said: “It shows how badly funding is needed and shows how much demand has increased”.

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