Legal News

NHS mental health services for students have been badly hit by the government’s budget cuts across mental health services.

Some mental health trusts are trying to cut their budget by as much as 20% – with patients in Norfolk and Suffolk, City of York and Greater Manchester West campaigning against the cuts and complaining of long waiting lists to access mental health services.

Doctors have now warned Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt that an entire generation of students may be failed, as GP practices serving students on college and university campuses struggle with budget cuts for mental health.

The Independent reports that several university GP practices have been badly affected by government reform to the way GPs are funded – in effect “pulling the rug” out from under the feet of some GPs serving student populations.

Minimum Practice Income Guarantee (MPIG) for GPs was withdrawn from April – and more services are now being targeted at elderly patients, meaning student GP practices may suffer a shortfall in funding. MPIG was introduced as a safety net for GP practices which “lost out” financially under new NHS funding arrangements introduced in 2004. MPIG will be gradually withdrawn over the next seven years.

GP targets are usually related to health conditions more common in elderly patients, says The Independent’s report – while funding for conditions such as eating disorders, which are more common among student populations, has been cut.

Eating disorders can be symptomatic of an underlying mental health condition, such as anxiety or depression, however – and early intervention can help prevent a more serious mental health condition or secondary condition developing.

The NHS has introduced more talking therapies for mild to moderate mental health conditions such as mild depression – but patients in some areas such as Norfolk and Suffolk have complained of long waiting lists to access treatment even for mild mental health conditions.

Student populations may also experience more mental health issues at certain times of the academic year, such as during assessment or examination periods – or when examination results are published.

The Student Health Association has written to Jeremy Hunt saying that there is “a real risk of practices going under and no longer being able to provide their expert care to their young, adult patients”. The association represents specialists in student healthcare and services.

Rowhedge Medical Practice near Colchester – a village surgery which operates as a specialist student practice for 8,500 patients at the University of Essex – could lose 30% of its funding over the next seven years as a result of MPIG being withdrawn, according to Senior Partner Dr Michele Wall, who told The Independent on Sunday:

“The government is rationing care. If they're not funding it properly, then there is no other word for it – they're rationing it.

“University practices across the board are going to suffer – students have significant needs, particularly in sexual and mental health.”

Dr Wall added that, while GP practices usually received £80 per patient per year, new funding arrangements meant that GP practices serving a mainly student population would most likely receive around £47 per patient.

Duncan Lewis Mental Health Solicitors

Duncan Lewis is a specialist mental health solicitors and can advise mental health patients on issues such as access to services and detention under the Mental Health Act.

Duncan Lewis is also a leading Legal Aid solicitor and in some cases may be able to advise the next of kin or carer of a mental health patient – including legal advice on initiating treatment reviews, where appropriate.

For expert advice on mental health law, contact the Duncan Lewis Mental Health Solicitors Helpline on 0203 114 1224.