NHS Cuts

Where is this NHS ring fence, have you seen it anywhere? Don't try looking because it does not exist.

The Lancet reports that they were passed a document from Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust entitled, "Proposal for A/OA Organisational Change Paper." (A being adults, OA being older adults). The Lancet says:

"The current income budget of the [Adult and Older Adult] Directorate is approximately £42 m. The savings to be achieved are £5·3 million over the next 4 years.” In Appendix 3 and 4 of this proposal, staffing changes are set out in detail. For adult mental health services, three consultant psychiatrists out of 19 will lose their jobs. There will be 16 fewer care-coordinators and support workers, eight fewer allied health workers, and one less staff grade position, together with cuts in clinical psychologists. There will be an increase in a new category of support, time, and recovery worker, but their numbers and skills will not fully compensate for the loss of front-line health professionals, including the 15% cut in consultant psychiatrists. There are additional cuts in health professionals among staffing for older adults."

 So no front-line NHS cuts, eh?