Private Sector and the NHS

A very interesting insight into the issue ---Circle outlines £8bn 'NHS growth opportunity'

Avon and Wiltshire Mental Health NHS Trust - Care Quality Commission

So the The Care Quality Commission (CQC)has said the Avon and Wiltshire Mental Health NHS Trust failed in four out of five areas of its inspection in June , hardly a great surprise to people in the MH field . In its report the COC expressed "serious concerns" about the numbers of people failing to get treatment during a trust revamp, the trust in a response said some of the problems had been resolved and that redesigned services "would bring benefits" rather worrying that"SOME OF THE PROBLEMS " have been resolved !! The report found that the trust did protect people from abuse, but that there were not enough staff to keep people safe and meet their health and welfare needs. "There were insufficient qualified, skilled experienced staff to meet people's needs," the report said. "The provider was not meeting this standard. We judged that this had a moderate impact on people using the service." Avon and Wiltshire Mental Health Trust provides specialist mental health services for the Bath and North East Somerset, Bristol, North Somerset, South Gloucestershire, Swindon and Wiltshire area .

Council split of £8m mental health advocacy fund set to be based on social care needs

The following is an extract from the excellent Mad World Blog ---

Andy McNicoll on August 17, 2012 9:34 AM

Council split of £8m mental health advocacy fund set to be based on social care needs

Should the amount of money a local authority gets to fund independent mental health advocacy (IMHA) services be determined by the local population size or the local social care need levels?

That's the question posed in a Department of Health consultation closing in September. Ministers are considering how best to split the £8.3m the government has committed to IMHA funding among local authorities. Councils will take on responsibility for the services from primary care trusts (PCTs) in 2013 as part of the Health and Social Care Act.

There are two options on the table:

    Option 1: The funding each area needs to provide IMHA services will be proportionate to the size of the local adult population aged 18+. Apparently this would be appropriate if "demand for IMHA services rises in proportion to the size of the local population."

    Option 2: The funding an area needs to provide IMHA services will be proportionate to the relative need in each local authority for state supported social care

The Department of Health admits that both options "are imperfect". But it plumps for option 2 as its "preferred option", arguing that "the social care formulae are likely to be a better reflection of local service need.

------

I for one have grave concerns re option 2 ,we are all to well aware of the slight of hand approach to any funds for MH support by varoius statutory bodies, surely a more open funding solution can be found in option 1 ?

Cancer care

Lansley hails cancer care improvements

Well I am sure we are all delighted with the news that the care for sufferes of cancer is improving, however cut backs in NHS funding are not helping.

Guardian.co.uk - Homeless teenager forced to live in tent after councils neglect his needs

Guardian.co.uk - Homeless teenager forced to live in tent after councils neglect his needs