Audio: Monitor investigation of NSFT is lead interview on BBC Radio Norfolk Breakfast. Norman Lamb is unavailable.

Norfolk & Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust (NSFT) nurse and mental health campaigner, Emma Corlett of Unison, is interviewed by Nicky Price of the BBC. The investigation launched by the NHS regulator, Monitor, was the lead story on BBC Radio Norfolk Breakfast. Norman Lamb claimed to be unavailable for interview and could only issue a mealy-mouthed […]

Audio: Monitor investigation of NSFT is lead interview on BBC Radio Norfolk Breakfast. Norman Lamb is unavailable. Read More »

BBC News: Monitor to launch inquiry into Norfolk and Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust

NHS regulator Monitor is to launch an inquiry into the mental health trust for Norfolk and Suffolk after concerns were raised over its finances. Monitor said it would look into whether Norfolk and Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust (NSFT) had breached the terms of its licence over its £1.72m deficit. The inquiry follows a Care Quality

BBC News: Monitor to launch inquiry into Norfolk and Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust Read More »

10-bed Assessment Unit fiasco: Can it get worse?

Several supporters have been in touch. They tell us that while Nic Rigby’s report of the rejection of the opening of the 10-bed Assessment Unit is accurate, it is quite conservative in the conclusions it draws. We have also been sent by several sources the relevant sections of the Investment Committee (IC) report submitted by

10-bed Assessment Unit fiasco: Can it get worse? Read More »

BBC News: Norfolk and Suffolk health: Warning over ward plan

A mental health trust does not have funds to reopen a ward intended to ease a beds crisis, a report has warned. The Norfolk and Suffolk Foundation Trust (NSFT) announced in September plans to reopen 10 beds at Hellesdon Hospital. A report to the trust in October said it should not reopen the ward because

BBC News: Norfolk and Suffolk health: Warning over ward plan Read More »

Video: BBC Look East – Number of people in beds beyond Norfolk & Suffolk rises to 50!

When we started our campaign one year ago, we never thought the beds and community crises would become worse. But they have! We’ve won some victories but imagine how much worse things would be without our campaign! Join us at our Anniversary Open Meeting on Thursday 27th November to fight for decent mental health services. As

Video: BBC Look East – Number of people in beds beyond Norfolk & Suffolk rises to 50! Read More »

BBC News: Mental health in Norfolk and Suffolk ‘£30m underfunded’

On Saturday the BBC revealed the trust had 50 patients in beds outside the counties, due to a lack of funding and a shortage of beds. The Campaign to Save Mental Health Services in Norfolk and Suffolk has said the trust’s programme to make £40m of cuts by 2018 has had a “devastating impact on

BBC News: Mental health in Norfolk and Suffolk ‘£30m underfunded’ Read More »

Invitation to our Anniversary Open Meeting on Thursday 27th November, 7.30-9.30 p.m. Vauxhall Centre, Norwich NR2 2SA

INVITATION TO OUR ANNIVERSARY OPEN MEETING ON THURSDAY 27TH NOVEMBER, 7.30-9.30 PM VAUXHALL CENTRE, NORWICH NR2 2SA Dear all, Our Campaign started a year ago this month when mental health services in Norfolk and Suffolk first reached crisis point. The ‘Nicholson Challenge’ imposed £20 billion cost savings on all NHS Trusts. As a result, Norfolk &

Invitation to our Anniversary Open Meeting on Thursday 27th November, 7.30-9.30 p.m. Vauxhall Centre, Norwich NR2 2SA Read More »

BBC News: Norfolk and Suffolk mental health cuts ‘devastating’, campaigners say

Funding cuts in Norfolk and Suffolk show the government is failing to put mental and physical health on an equal footing, campaigners say. Mainstream hospitals in the two counties have seen budgets rise by 15% since 2010, while mental health service funding has fallen by 3%. The Campaign to Save Mental Health Services in Norfolk

BBC News: Norfolk and Suffolk mental health cuts ‘devastating’, campaigners say Read More »

Lobby South Norfolk CCG: The Chart which shames Norman Lamb and the Seven CCGs (and the NSFT Board too)

The chart below details the changes in the funding provided to Norfolk & Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust (NSFT) and the local acute NHS Trusts by the seven Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs) in Norfolk and Suffolk. While Norman Lamb, North Norfolk MP and the Secretary of State at the Department of Health directly responsible for mental

Lobby South Norfolk CCG: The Chart which shames Norman Lamb and the Seven CCGs (and the NSFT Board too) Read More »

BBC News: Mental health ‘starved of resources’, says former coroner

Well said, William Armstrong, Chairman of Healthwatch, former Norfolk Coroner and current Sheriff of Norwich: Mental health services are being “starved of resources”, the chairman of a health watchdog in Norfolk has said. Ex-coroner William Armstrong, of Healthwatch Norfolk, said cuts meant “more misery” for patients and their families. He said he had seen a

BBC News: Mental health ‘starved of resources’, says former coroner Read More »

In the cells: Breach of human rights so common that Norfolk and Suffolk Constabularies have a standard complaint letter

It is happening again this weekend. No beds. No accountability. No responsibility. Norman Lamb claims to be a champion of the mentally ill with his self-promotional but resourceless gimmicks such as sponsored bike rides, the Cashless Concordat and ‘parity of esteem‘. The truth is that mental health services have been cut in real terms while

In the cells: Breach of human rights so common that Norfolk and Suffolk Constabularies have a standard complaint letter Read More »

Exclusive: Norfolk & Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust (NSFT) plans to cut more than 438 posts in only two years

We have been passed a copy of the Operational Plan 2014-16 of Norfolk & Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust (NSFT) and its contents are shocking. In the 2013-14 financial year, mental health services in Norfolk and Suffolk were already in deep crisis and this campaign was founded as a result. Yet the Operational Plan submitted to

Exclusive: Norfolk & Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust (NSFT) plans to cut more than 438 posts in only two years Read More »

BBC News: Assessment suite closures concern for mental health in Norfolk and Suffolk

Nic Rigby of the BBC reports: Concerns over plans to centralise Norfolk mental health assessment suites in Norwich have been raised by a police commissioner and a union. Norfolk and Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust, which manages the suites, has started consulting staff on the proposal, the BBC understands. People are brought to the suites, often

BBC News: Assessment suite closures concern for mental health in Norfolk and Suffolk Read More »

EDP: Health watchdog urges mental health trust to improve community services in Norfolk and Suffolk

Award-winning Health Correspondent Adam Gretton of the EDP reports: Officials from the Care Quality Commission (CQC), said the mental health trust for Norfolk and Suffolk had high numbers of “worse than expected” results from the survey, which was conducted by the health watchdog earlier this year. More than 250 patients using community services at NSFT

EDP: Health watchdog urges mental health trust to improve community services in Norfolk and Suffolk Read More »

EDP: Concern over £16m temporary staffing bill for Norfolk and Suffolk mental health trust

“Emma Corlett, NSFT Unison media spokesperson, who is also a mental health nurse in Norwich, said the cuts to local services had proved to be a “false economy.” She added that the trust continued to spend large sums of money on temporary staffing costs, which amounted to £2.39m in August and more than £8m for the

EDP: Concern over £16m temporary staffing bill for Norfolk and Suffolk mental health trust Read More »

BBC News: Norfolk and Suffolk mental health unit waits of 22 hours ‘not acceptable’

Nic Rigby of the BBC reports: Patients having to wait up to 22 hours in mental health assessment suites in Norfolk and Suffolk is “unacceptable”, leading experts have said. A BBC Freedom of Information request found that between January and July, seven patients had to wait more than 15 hours and three more than 20.

BBC News: Norfolk and Suffolk mental health unit waits of 22 hours ‘not acceptable’ Read More »

In NSFT’s words: Bed pressure

“Use of ‘red leave’ bed’s to manage patients locally, meaning using beds deemed to be held for patients considered to be potentially at risk by inpatient teams. Increased demands on staffing to manage high turnover of service users as well as protracted time periods required to manage applications for OOA placements as well as transport issues. OOA placement usage, this provides financial pressures and risk as well as quality risk. Extended

In NSFT’s words: Bed pressure Read More »

In NSFT’s words: Unallocated cases

“Inability to provide an individual practitioner to every Service User in Central Adult Community There are a growing number of unallocated clinical cases in the Central Locality who require Care Coordination or Lead Care Professional alignment which could result in a lack of timely intervention if required. last recorded unallocated numbers awaiting caseload allocation is 381.” The current dangerous situation in mental health community teams is going to become much, much worse

In NSFT’s words: Unallocated cases Read More »

Scroll to Top