Why are MIND and Rethink not joining the Campaign- Time to Talk or Time to Fight

[Terry Skyrme]

No one can fail to have noticed the joint campaign by Mind and Rethink to counter stigma in mental health; this is excellent but a direct consequence of stigma is the historical underfunding of mental health services compared to that of physical health services. This continues today with the recent revelation by the Royal College of Psychiatry that money intended for mental health services is now being diverted to physical health care because of the repercussions of the Mid-Staffs inquiry; we have said from the beginning of this campaign that mental health care is facing its own risk of a Mid-Staffs situation arising. Mind especially has had a strong tradition of fighting for patients rights, but both Rethink and Mind seem particularly quiet about the crisis in mental health services in Norfolk and Suffolk; many patients are being deprived of the most basic right, the right to good care and treatment; it really is time to stand up and be counted before things get even worse.

[David Walter]

Well said Terry

[mike]

I was curious about this conundrum as well, so I asked MIND.  Here is part of their reply.

‘In order to ensure the services can be improved we have been endeavouring to work in partnership with the Trust for the past 3 years.  As part of the Redesign Process we have tried to play a constructive role in helping to suggest good alternatives provided in the third sector which would provide support for people at a lower cost but achieve similar outcomes…..’

Amanda. Hedley

CEO. MIND Norwich

You have to make of that what you will…..Does this mean MIND or others are bidding to be sub contracted by the Trust.

[Cynic]

Amanda Hedley is the wife of the Medical Director of Norfolk & Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust, Hadrian Ball. Hadrian Ball earns an annual salary of more than £150,000 in his role and is the highest paid director on the Board that proposed and agreed the radical redesign.

Amanda Hedley used to be an executive Board Director of Norfolk & Waveney Mental Health Partnership, a precursor of the current Norfolk & Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust. Her job title was Director of Integration & Services.

When Amanda Hedley appeared before the Health Overview & Scrutiny Committee (HOSC) of Norfolk County Council as sole representative of the voluntary sector and backed the radical redesign, she did not mention the above information to the councillors.

She probably didn’t mention it in her letter to you either.

These are the minutes of her contribution to the HOSC:

The representative from the Norfolk MIND organisations, who also spoke on
behalf of Suffolk MIND, said that MIND had three roles which included being
a critical friend, a stakeholder partner, and a co-deliverer of services. She
was pleased to hear that access to services should be improved. She noted
that there was great benefit in the co-delivery of services by NSFT and the
voluntary sector and felt that MIND could even deliver some of the services
currently delivered through the Trust which would make use of their expertise
in certain areas. She also noted that there was a need for commissioners to
take a stronger lead in the design of the strategy and services overall so that
the part to be played by the voluntary sector could be properly considered.
She acknowledged the financial pressures facing NSFT and urged the Trust
not to retreat inwardly as a result. She also noted the need for transitional
funding was for the whole system, not just for NSFT.

See the minutes available here.

[James]

So yet again we uncover an undisclosed interest at the highest level of NSFT. I wonder what else needs to come out? Hmmm… I know – watch this space!