Inquiry over Lancashire £2.4m mental health bill`

AN inquiry has been ordered after social services chiefs in Lancashire were left with an extra £2.4million bill for looking after people with mental health problems.

County councillors have questioned why the department is on course for a £2.6million overspend this year, despite efforts to reduce the cost of care packages.

But county council officials insist £2.4million of the bill can be attributed to unexpected charges for residential care services.

This has been caused by a 13 per cent rise in the number of care packages, according to social services.

County councillor Margaret Brindle, who represents Burnley Rural division, had questioned the increase at a cabinet meeting.

“This does seem a rather high figure,” she said.

Richard Jones, the county council’s social services director, said: “It arises as a result of the reshaping of services by Lancashire Care Foundation Trust who have removed significant numbers from their system.

“We are in negotiations and we are trying to work together to maintain a joined-up approach and make sure the trust is able to reach their contractual obligations.”

Lancashire Care are implementing plans to reduce the number of specialist beds number from around 400 to between 260 and 300.

But the health trust has denied it is to blame for the overspend.

A Lancashire Care spokesman said: “We are working in partnership with colleagues in Lancashire County Council and primary care trusts to ensure that we achieve the best use of resources but more importantly to ensure that our service users receive the right type of care and treatment to best meet their individual needs.

“An example of this would be in relation to our secure facilities where we are successfully managing to discharge people into the community rather than them remaining in our secure services for many years.

“This is in line with best practice and national guidance to promote recovery, improve outcomes and opportunities for social inclusion.”

No existing services will be directly affected by the negotiations.