Oxfordshire mental health cuts will hit adults, says Unite
14 July 2010
Mental health workers in Oxfordshire face 25 per cent job cuts
which would have ‘a devastating effect’ on adult clients, Unite,
the largest union in the country, has warned.
The Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Mental Health Trust has
started a six-week consultation on proposals that could mean 50
jobs being axed from adult services from the nearly 200-strong
community mental health teams (CMHTs).
Unite regional officer, Debbie Watson, said: ”This will have a
devastating effect on services for adults and older people in
Oxfordshire. Local GPs and patients will struggle to access
community mental health services, and the pressures on staff to see
more people will damage the quality of care and compromise
safety.”
Unite said that it wants the public in Oxfordshire to be aware
of what is happening and support a campaign to stop these cuts.
The cuts are part of a plan to cut costs by £5.3 million over
the next four years. More than £3 million is expected to come from
community services.
Debbie Watson said: ”There will be a large reduction in
community staff, and those remaining will be expected to carry
bigger caseloads. Other proposals such as reducing home visits, and
desk sharing are on the cards as part of the plan.
”The trust plans to employ performance managers to make teams
work more ‘efficiently’. There are also concerns that senior posts
are being reduced, so that less qualified staff will be expected to
do more complex work.”
Debbie Watson said that the trust’s increased use of
unregistered workers is camouflage which appears to make the cut
less severe at about 18 per cent.
She said: ”There is concern that the trust has underestimated
the impact of the proposals and that the reorganisation is
cost-driven rather than care-driven.
”In-patient services are cut to the bone. The only place they
can target now is community services, but this would be a disaster.
Our members work at keeping people out of hospital, and helping
them to stay well. Cutting services will damage patient care and
people will fall through the net.
”We had been assured that frontline NHS services would be
protected in the current financial climate. It is clear that the
new government is not honouring its promises to the public.
”Strong mental health services are critical during recession. We
urge the trust to rethink its proposals, stop diverting public
money to external business advisors and, instead, protect frontline
services.”
ENDS
Notes to news editors:
Further information, please ring: Debbie Watson 07798 531 029;
David Fleming, national officer, health07798 531013 or Shaun
Noble, communications officer (health sector) 020 7420 8951 or
07768 693 940
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