Legal News

Research by the BBC and online journal Community Care suggests that mental health budgets have fallen by 8.25% during this parliament.

During the same period, referrals to community mental health teams – which support mental health patients nearing a crisis to help them avoid being admitted to hospital – have risen by nearly 20%.

The fall in the budget represents the equivalent of £598 million in funding, however.

The BBC and Community Care obtained the figures under Freedom of Information (FoI) requests, as well as from annual reports and extensive research.

Researchers compared the budgets of mental health trusts in England in 2010 to 2011 with budgets for this year, 2014 to 2015.

Out of 56 mental health trusts, a total of 43 responded to FoI requests, but did not always give all the data requested.

Researchers found, however, that data from 34 trusts showed community mental health budgets had been slashed 4.9% in real terms during this parliament.

Government cuts have left some mental health trusts struggling to cut up to 20% from their budgets, leading to a reduction in hospital beds and more reliance on help in the community and from community support workers, often via phone lines.

Some mental health trusts – including Pennine Care and Lincolnshire – have seen budget increases, however.

But most mental health trusts have suffered budget cuts – with trusts like Leicestershire and West London hit by above average cuts in their mental health budgets.

In recent months, A&E departments have reported a rise in the number of mental health patients turning up at A&E as a result of not being able to access their support worker, however.

The government has pledged to give mental health parity with physical health – including waiting time targets for patients to access mental health services.

Health and Care Minister Norman Lamb has said that health budgets were not the “full picture” when it came to mental health services, however.

Mr Lamb is MP for North Norfolk – Norfolk and Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust (NSFT) is one of the mental health trusts which has cut 20% from its budget.

“Mental health care is given through a range of services including the voluntary sector,” Mr Lamb said.

Figures from 29 of the trusts which responded to the information requests suggest that referrals to community mental health services have so far increased by 18.5% during this parliament.

Duncan Lewis Mental Health Solicitors

Duncan Lewis mental health solicitors are the UK’s largest provider of Legal Aid mental health services – and can advise mental health patients on their rights under the Mental health Act – including access to NHS mental health care and detention under the Mental Health Act.

Duncan Lewis mental health solicitors are based nationwide and regularly visit mental health hospitals and police stations to advise on mental health law.

In some cases, Duncan Lewis may be able to advise the nearest relative or carer of a mental health patient on access to care and mental health law.

For expert legal advice on all aspects of mental health care, call the Duncan Lewis Mental health Solicitors Helpline on 0203 114 1124.