STUNELL SLAMS STOCKPORT PCT FOR FAILURE TO INVEST IN MENTAL HEALTH

12.01.00am GMT Tue 28th Oct 2008

Local MP Andrew Stunell today hit out at Stockport PCT over their provision of mental health services, after a new report from the NHS North West Commission on Mental Health Services showed that Stockport PCT:

• is spending £7,295,600 LESS per year than the North West Average on mental health services;

and

• is spending only 21p per head on commissioning mental health services, the LOWEST in the North West, at barely a third of the North West Average.

Commenting on the report, Andrew Said:

"This report makes it clear that the North West has lower spending on Mental Health services than the rest of the country, and that Stockport is lower still, right at the bottom of the league.

"There is no doubt that some real improvements have been put in place by the Primary Care Trust, but there is still a very long way to go to bring care of those suffering mental health problems up to scratch.

"This report backs up the case I have been making for more money for NHS mental health services locally.

"Now, with the current economic climate putting such a huge strain on the wellbeing of families across the North West, investing in mental health services has never been more important.

"Stockport PCT and the Government must now work together to ensure that mental health is no longer a forgotten service."

ENDS

Notes:

1 The NHS North West Commission on Mental Health Services report was published 28th October 2008. A copy, including figures for each North West PCT, is available at:

http://www.northwest.nhs.uk/projects/mental_health_commission

2 Stockport PCT spent £0.21 per head of population on commissioning mental health services. The North West Average is £0.66. Manchester PCT spent £1.49 per head.

3 There are 280,600 people served by Stockport PCT

4 Stockport PCT spent £121 per head of population on mental health provision. The North West Average is £147, and National average is £153. The differences are thus £26 and £32 respectively. When multiplied by the 280,600 people served by Stockport PCT, it shows that they are spending £7,295,600 less than the North West average, and £8,979,200 less than the national average.

5 Mental health has been estimated to cost the UK economy £48 billion every year in loss of output and cost of treatment.