Mental Health

Mental Health Cuts In The UK May Endanger Patients Lives

By Jenn Loro | Update Date: Nov 12, 2015 12:00 PM EST

Budget cuts on mental health in the UK may result in the decline in the quality of health care among patients with mental health problems thus endangering their lives.

King's Fund think tank released a review saying that there has already been widespread evidence that cheaper, 'disappearing' services have now resulted to poor health care, BBC reported.

The think tank also pointed out that 14% of the patients are reportedly not receiving proper care with some patients sent to another mental facility far from home due to problems in hospital occupancy rates among other problems.

Other patients who have sensitive disorders like having suicidal attempts or psychosis are now merged in more generic communities with specialist teams not equipped to deal with them.

"These transformation programmes have usually resulted in costs reductions and have prevented many mental health providers from falling into deficit. This may have come at the expense of patient care. There is evidence of increased variation in care and reduced access to services as a result of the changes," King's Fund said as mentioned in The Guardian.

Stephen Dalton, chief executive of the NHS Confederation's Mental Health Network affirmed the negative results in mental health care due to the budget cuts and reforms further saying that the subject has been discussed repeatedly in the law-making body of the country, however, little action has been felt for it, Telegraph UK reported.

It's become a spectator sport now with every one from the Prime Minister to NHS England standing on the sidelines talking about what should happen whist local services aren't seeing any new funding and in fact, are being cut. That together with cuts to social care is resulting in the most dreadful stories and experiences for people who are very vulnerable and in need of services." he said in a radio program.

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