Councillor highlights 'dangerous' level of mental health service

9.00.00am GMT Wed 8th Mar 2006

Cambridge City Councillor, Joye Rosenstiel, has criticised the current provision of mental health services in Cambridge.

Cllr Rosenstiel's criticism came during a speech to Liberal Democrat Party Conference in Harrogate this weekend. The debate centred around the serious impact on services caused by budget deficits and major cuts in Cambridge and in many other areas.

Cllr Rosenstiel commented:

"The cuts made to Mental Health Services and in particular the Young People's Service have reduced services to a dangerous level. With the loss of the Young People's Service there is a gap in provision that cannot be filled. Young people are being told instead to go to the Complex Needs Unit, but what young person wants to be told that they have 'complex' mental needs?

Cllr Julian Huppert discussing the mental health crisis

"The expertise and experience of the YPS is almost irreplaceable and the alternatives offered by the Primary Care Trust do not fulfil the specific needs of the YPS' former patients."