John Lister: Meltdown in Mental Health

John Lister is a respected journalist, academic and director of Health Emergency. In his monthly column in the Morning Star, John looks at on the Meltdown in mental health services and focuses on Norfolk & Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust (NSFT) in particular. It is an excellent article, even if you wouldn’t normally read the Morning […]

John Lister: Meltdown in Mental Health Read More »

EDP: Concern over mental health referral service in Norfolk

Campaigners raised their concerns after figures from a Freedom of Information (FoI) request revealed that the organisation had not hit its referral targets for the last five months of 2013. Figures showed that 65pc of emergency referrals received an assessment in four hours, only 17pc of urgent referral cases were contacted within 72 hours and

EDP: Concern over mental health referral service in Norfolk Read More »

33rd Day of Lent: Going without the NHS

This shocking story has been shared by ‘Ben’ (name has been changed). It sadly shows another failure caused by the inability of the post cuts, post ‘radical redesign’ Adult Mental Health Services of Norfolk & Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust (NSFT) to consistently respond to people in crisis in a timely and appropriate way. However, this

33rd Day of Lent: Going without the NHS Read More »

Unbelievable: After spending £7.3 million on redundancies, NSFT launches a massive recruitment drive

Some staff were paid to leave Norfolk & Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust (NSFT) only last week. NSFT has wasted millions of pounds and put services at risk. What a scandal. Soon to qualify? Newly qualified? Experienced? Any level of experience… Staff Nurses and Mental Health Workers/Practitioners All jobs… Temporary or permanent… Band 5 and Band 6 Other bands

Unbelievable: After spending £7.3 million on redundancies, NSFT launches a massive recruitment drive Read More »

32nd Day of Lent: Going without listening to warnings

The warnings below are from an email sent more than sixteen months ago by a carer to Norfolk & Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust (NSFT). The email containing these quotations was sent on 22nd November 2012. This email provides evidence that the Operations Director of NSFT knew and admitted that demand for beds was rising as long ago

32nd Day of Lent: Going without listening to warnings Read More »

30th Day of Lent: Going without £161,965.32 spent in SIX months on an interim Finance Director at NSFT

The Freedom of Information Department at Norfolk & Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust writes: “Thank you for your recent request under the Freedom of Information Act. I can confirm the following:- The Interim Finance Director is supplied to the Trust via the agency Green Park Interim and Executive Limited. Costs in relation to this role for

30th Day of Lent: Going without £161,965.32 spent in SIX months on an interim Finance Director at NSFT Read More »

29th Day of Lent: Going without beds for both husband and wife

Luke writes: “A few weeks ago an 86 year old man needed admission. He was sectioned, and after FOUR hours of phone calls a bed was eventually found… in SCUNTHORPE. Yes, the nearest available bed to Norfolk and Suffolk was SCUNTHORPE. However, there was no ambulance service available to take him, private or public. So, his

29th Day of Lent: Going without beds for both husband and wife Read More »

28th Day of Lent: Going without basic numeracy skills

Abraham writes: “We all know that spending £7.3 million on redundancies when there are 361 vacancies at Norfolk & Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust (NSFT) is an outrageous scandal which threatens the safe delivery of services to the vulnerable, as well as an extraordinary waste of money. Sometimes, it is whispered that the purpose of the

28th Day of Lent: Going without basic numeracy skills Read More »

27th Day of Lent: Going without hope of genuine consultation and influence

Rachel writes: “Carers once believed that Norfolk & Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust (NSFT) listened to the views of people with mental health problems and their carers. Currently, people are unable to understand why NSFT’s Carer and Service User Councils bar attendance from people who use mental health services and their carers. This exclusive policy is

27th Day of Lent: Going without hope of genuine consultation and influence Read More »

26th Day of Lent: Going without an ‘enhanced CRHT’

Sebastian writes: “The Central Cluster CRHT have had to give up nine band six staff, those who are most experienced and qualified in the Team; they carry out the risk assessments and provide leadership to the Team. They have all been downgraded to Band five under a dubious process; four of them have been transferred

26th Day of Lent: Going without an ‘enhanced CRHT’ Read More »

Audio: BBC Radio 4 World at One on the Mental Health Crisis at Norfolk & Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust (NSFT)

  http://norfolksuffolkmentalhealthcrisis.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/BBC-Radio-4-World-at-One-4-April-2014-Crisis-at-NSFT.mp3   Isn’t it incredible that NHS England couldn’t find anybody to talk on national radio about the crisis in mental health?

Audio: BBC Radio 4 World at One on the Mental Health Crisis at Norfolk & Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust (NSFT) Read More »

EDP: Mental health campaigners complete walk from Ipswich to Norwich

Campaign member Emma Corlett of Unison, who is also a Norfolk County Councillor and member champion for mental health, said they had received “unanimous support” from people during the two day walk. She added that they wanted to raise the profile of mental health cuts in Norfolk and Suffolk. “We met people who talked about

EDP: Mental health campaigners complete walk from Ipswich to Norwich Read More »

25th Day of Lent: Going without an assigned care co-ordinator

William writes: “Due to team members leaving & maternity cover, we’re being told to move patients to a ‘team-held pot’ rather with duty expected to pick them up rather than allocating a care co-ordinator. It is an unusual practice and who is accountable? As duty is covered by existing team members, it is still adding

25th Day of Lent: Going without an assigned care co-ordinator Read More »

24th Day of Lent: Going without… carers being listened to

Rebecca writes: “Carers of children who develop mental illness cling onto hope – initially, hope for a complete cure. The shock of a child’s personality altered by incurable mental illness, with their future in jeopardy, takes years to understand. Gradually acceptance emerges with the constant hope that the cared for person attains insight into his

24th Day of Lent: Going without… carers being listened to Read More »

23rd Day of Lent: Going without the support of our own MPs – Open Letter

Dear Norfolk & Suffolk Members of Parliament, We are a group of mental health staff, people who use services and members of the community who are deeply concerned about the impact of cuts forced on our mental health trust. Today we are walking side by side from the office of Ben Gummer MP in Ipswich

23rd Day of Lent: Going without the support of our own MPs – Open Letter Read More »

Scroll to Top