EDP Front Page: Cross-party letter demands end to ‘chaos and confusion’ in Norfolk and Suffolk mental health

Geraldine Scott of the Eastern Daily Press reports: A cross-party group of MPs have demanded the “chaos and confusion must end” over the region’s failing mental health care provision. Seven MPs from Norfolk and Suffolk, representing the Conservatives, Labour, and the Liberal Democrats, have written to regulator NHS Improvement (NHSI) to slam the “unacceptable drift” […]

EDP Front Page: Cross-party letter demands end to ‘chaos and confusion’ in Norfolk and Suffolk mental health Read More »

EDP: Opinion: ‘The biggest disgrace at mental health trust is that people were warned, and failed to act’

Former mental health nurse and Norfolk County Council mental health champion Emma Corlett writes in the Eastern Daily Press: As yet another damning report about Norfolk and Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust (NSFT) is released, we need to take a look at why local mental health services are in such a mess. A perfect storm of

EDP: Opinion: ‘The biggest disgrace at mental health trust is that people were warned, and failed to act’ Read More »

Deaths Crisis: EDP: Deaths at mental health trust due to safety incidents rise by 75pc

Geraldine Scott of the Eastern Daily Press reports: Serious safety incidents led to 35 deaths at the region’s mental health trust over a six month period, figures have revealed. The data, which showed the number of “unintended or unexpected incidents that could have or did lead to harm” reported between October 2017 and March 2018,

Deaths Crisis: EDP: Deaths at mental health trust due to safety incidents rise by 75pc Read More »

EDP Front Page: Is ‘remote, awful and inhumane’ mental health support in north Norfolk behind a spate of young men’s deaths?

In investigative reporting that is worthy of a national journalism award, Jessica Frank-Keyes of the Eastern Daily Press writes: Grieving parents and a retired GP say “remote, awful and inhumane” mental health support is leaving young men in north Norfolk at a heightened risk of taking their own lives. In recent months two young men

EDP Front Page: Is ‘remote, awful and inhumane’ mental health support in north Norfolk behind a spate of young men’s deaths? Read More »

EDP: ‘Tolerance of poor standards’ at mental health trust, report finds

Geraldine Scott of the Eastern Daily Press reports: A damning review into the leadership at the region’s mental health trust has identified a “tolerance of poor standards”, it can be revealed. We’ve been saying this since 2013. NHS Improvement, the national body which oversees health trusts, ordered the report into Norfolk and Suffolk Foundation Trust

EDP: ‘Tolerance of poor standards’ at mental health trust, report finds Read More »

EDP: ‘I want to get my sleeves rolled up and improve things’ – New mental health boss sets out priorities

Geraldine Scott of the Eastern Daily Press reports: The new boss of the region’s mental health trust has expressed his disappointment after it was revealed service users and carers gave him low scores during the interview process. The scores weren’t just low. The large and heterogeneous service user and carer appointment panel came to the

EDP: ‘I want to get my sleeves rolled up and improve things’ – New mental health boss sets out priorities Read More »

Press statement: Untrue and misleading statements made by Alistair Campbell

Yesterday, Alistair Campbell told the Eastern Daily Press: “On the one hand they’re saying services are terrible, and on the other hand they’re saying we don’t want any change. But there’s a bit of a big inconsistency in that. If they’re not happy with the services then at least look at some of the changes

Press statement: Untrue and misleading statements made by Alistair Campbell Read More »

EDP: Mental health trust’s pledge to eradicate out of area placements by 2021

Geraldine Scott of the Eastern Daily Press reports: The region’s mental health trust has pledged to eradicate the use of out of area beds by 2021. Oh dear. That’s three years away, a national target and seven years after commissioners’ original promise to end the use of out of area beds before the end of

EDP: Mental health trust’s pledge to eradicate out of area placements by 2021 Read More »

EDP: New mental health beds to be opened for children and young people

Geraldine Scott of the Eastern Daily Press reports: New mental health beds for children and young people are set to open in the region after a review found current services were not enough. At long last! We’ve been saying this should happen for more than four years. Commissioners, including the newly-imposed CEO of NSFT, Antek

EDP: New mental health beds to be opened for children and young people Read More »

EDP: Mental health service failure “significantly contributed” to suicide of Norwich mother

Dominic Gilbert of the Eastern Daily Press reports: Failures of mental health services “significantly contributed” to the suicide of a mother struggling with depression and post-traumatic stress disorder, a jury has found. Katherine Rought-Rought died at her home in North Park Avenue in Norwich on June 1, 2016 from asphyxiation due to strangulation. Only hours

EDP: Mental health service failure “significantly contributed” to suicide of Norwich mother Read More »

EDP: Mental health boss brands rejection of funding as ‘utterly indefensible’ as governors raise concern over recruitment figures

Gemma Mitchell of the Eastern Daily Press reports: A mental health boss has hit out and branded it ‘utterly indefensible’ that a bid for more than £5m which would be used to address safety concerns was snubbed by the government. We understand that the Improvement Director, imposed upon Norfolk and Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust (NSFT)

EDP: Mental health boss brands rejection of funding as ‘utterly indefensible’ as governors raise concern over recruitment figures Read More »

EDP: Consultant psychiatrist says Norwich mother should have been admitted to hospital before her death

Geraldine Scott of the Eastern Daily Press reports: A consultant psychiatrist said the set up of mental health services across the country was “terrible” at an inquest into the death of a Norwich mother. Dr Robert Higgo, an expert clinical psychiatrist, gave evidence at Norfolk Coroner’s Court in Norwich this morning, into the death of

EDP: Consultant psychiatrist says Norwich mother should have been admitted to hospital before her death Read More »

EDP: New mental health boss appointment branded ‘disastrous’ by campaigners

Geraldine Scott of the Eastern Daily Press reports: The appointment of a new mental health boss has been branded “disastrous” by campaigners due to the new chief’s background in NHS funding. That means cuts. The STP’s own figures show that forty per cent of the ‘savings’ are due to funding not keeping up with inflation.

EDP: New mental health boss appointment branded ‘disastrous’ by campaigners Read More »

EDP Exclusive: Richard Branson’s controversial private health company Virgin Care could take over children’s mental health care in Norfolk

Geraldine Scott of the Eastern Daily Press reports: Children’s mental health services in Norfolk could be taken over by Sir Richard Branson’s controversial company Virgin Care, it can be revealed. The private company, which provides more than £1bn-worth of NHS contracts across the country, is believed to be eyeing a move into Norfolk – prompting

EDP Exclusive: Richard Branson’s controversial private health company Virgin Care could take over children’s mental health care in Norfolk Read More »

EDP: Tranquilisation changes came too little too late for Norwich man, says sister

Geraldine Scott of the Eastern Daily Press reports: “The sister of a mentally ill man who died after being tranquillised in hospital has slammed the region’s mental health trust for not addressing problems with the practice sooner. And a inquest into his death found failings in the care he received from Norfolk and Suffolk Foundation

EDP: Tranquilisation changes came too little too late for Norwich man, says sister Read More »

EDP: Ex-staff members speak out over ‘rotten foundations’ of mental health trust

Geraldine Scott of the Eastern Daily Press reports: Healthcare professionals who used to work at the region’s mental health trust have slammed “rotten foundations” stemming from a radical redesign six years ago. Former employees have spoken of their disappointment at the latest inspection report into Norfolk and Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust (NSFT) which plunged the

EDP: Ex-staff members speak out over ‘rotten foundations’ of mental health trust Read More »

EDP Data shows mental health trust has cut doctors and nurses – but chief disputes the figures

Geraldine Scott of the Eastern Daily Press reports: New data has revealed the number of doctors at the region’s mental health trust has shrunk over the last five years – whilst the number of managers has risen. Figures from the Health and Social Care Information Centre (HSCIC) showed in July 2017 there were 20.3pc fewer

EDP Data shows mental health trust has cut doctors and nurses – but chief disputes the figures Read More »

Campaign statement on NHS Digital payroll data showing 52.7 increase in managers as more than twenty per cent of doctor and qualified nurses cut at NSFT over past five years

A spokesperson for the Campaign to Save Mental Health Services in Norfolk and Suffolk said: “Since 2013, we have repeatedly warned about the increasing number of managers employed at NSFT as mental health services have been savagely cut and the number of unexpected deaths has doubled. But the NHS payroll information is worse than we

Campaign statement on NHS Digital payroll data showing 52.7 increase in managers as more than twenty per cent of doctor and qualified nurses cut at NSFT over past five years Read More »

EDP: OPINION: Coroners are too quick to shy away from saying a death was a suicide – it is time for a change

Geraldine Scott of the Eastern Daily Press writes: Across Europe, one person takes their own life every two hours. And in Norfolk we have significantly higher rates of suicide than other parts of the UK. The number of suicides in Norfolk is appalling: The age-adjusted three-year-rolling suicide rate, as published by the Office for National

EDP: OPINION: Coroners are too quick to shy away from saying a death was a suicide – it is time for a change Read More »

EDP: Mother of Norwich man who died of heroin overdose blames institutional failings of mental health trust

Geraldine Scott of the Eastern Daily Press reports: The family of a man who died of a heroin overdose at his Norwich flat blamed “institutional failings of the mental health trust” for the circumstances surrounding his death. Mr Jacobs’ friends told Norfolk’s Coroner’s Court this morning it was here Mr Jacobs was victim to the

EDP: Mother of Norwich man who died of heroin overdose blames institutional failings of mental health trust Read More »

Scroll to Top