Campaigners reject foundation status

Mental health groups have attacked plans to allow mental health
trusts to bid for foundation trust status later this year just a
week after the Healthcare Commission slammed their poor
performance.

The Mental Health Foundation said the government should focus on
improving the poorest services.

Meanwhile, Rethink has criticised the government for “killing off”
mental health targets from its new national standards for 2005-8.

The 2000 NHS Plan set a target of 2004 for all service users to be
able to access crisis resolution services any time and for young
people experiencing initial psychosis to receive the support they
need. Under the new plan, these targets have been moved to 2005 and
2006. A third, to create women-only day centres in every health
authority, has been scrapped.