End discrimination against mental health patients, says local Euro-MP
September 17, 2008 12:00 PM
Originally published by Liz Lynne
Originally published by Liz Lynne
Local Euro-MP and equality campaigner Liz Lynne has given strong backing
to new LibDem policies to ensure equal treatment for patients with mental
health needs as compared to those with physical needs.
The plan agreed by the conference in Bournemouth today would also ensure
greater safety by ending the practice of accommodating men and women, and
adults and minors, on the same mental health ward.
Speaking at the conference today, Liz Lynne MEP, who is Vice-President of
the European Parliament?s Employment and Social Affairs Committee said:
'The obsession with payment by results and waiting time targets has meant
that mental health trusts have effectively suffered cuts in their funding,
which has led to some services for the most vulnerable being cut. Leaving
funding and services for mental health patients fall behind those of other
patients is discrimination pure and simple.
'It is totally unacceptable for instance that some patients are given'
drugs when they don't need them, because they need therapy but there
aren't enough psychological therapists to go round. This in turn has a
knock-on effects for the benefits system - with more therapists, the
million plus people on incapacity benefit because of mental health
difficulties could be supported back into appropriate work.'
On mixed sex and junior and adult wards, Liz continued:
'The Labour government pledged to end mixed sex wards in 1997 when they
came to power and again in 2001 and yet it still hasn?t happened. It is
shocking that mixed sex wards and wards accommodating both adults and
under-18s still exist in mental health hospitals, in spite of the risk to
vulnerable patients. Our plan would genuinely see an end to this.'
A report from the Mental Health Act Commission earlier this year warned
that women and young people are thought to be at greater risk of sexual
abuse if placed on mixed sex adult wards. It found that basic standards of
safety and dignity were not always met in mental health care.
ENDS
Notes:
More information at:
Liz Lynne MEP authored a key 2007 joint report for the European Parliament
on Social Protection, Social Inclusion and Social Reality Stocktaking
which, amongst other things called for increased sharing of best practice
among EU Member States in the fight against social exclusion. Please find
the report here:
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