Trust Gets £250,000 For Community Intervention In Mental Health

Cambridgeshire Health chiefs have been awarded £250,000 to improve critical care after criticism from a national health tsar. Professor Luis Appleby, national director for mental health, raised concerns about the strategy for crisis resolution teams in the region. But after complaining it did not have enough money to meet national guidelines for the teams, Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Mental Health Trust has received £250,000. It is hoped the teams will plug the gap left in services if plans to cut 22 acute beds and an older people’s ward are finally given approval by the Government.

Karen Bell, chief executive of the NHS trust, said the teams would get involved with patients much earlier, with community intervention, to reduce hospital admissions.

The trust is attempting to save £3m in a plan that has been referred to the Department of Health by Cambridgeshire County Council. As part of the scheme £1.1m would be invested to create a crisis resolution and home treatment service.

The county council is still waiting for a response five months after writing to Health Secretary Patricia Hewitt.

Coun John Reynolds, the council’s deputy leader, said: “Given that the outcome will have an impact on vulnerable service users and their carers and that the issue is of considerable local public concern the council would expect a swifter response.”