Inquiry plea as cuts threaten services

Mental health services face significant cuts and job losses, according to a charity.

Rethink has called for a national investigation after learning that at least nine areas in England each face major cuts that could be as high as 3m over the next three years.

Chief executive Cliff Prior has written to health services minister Rosie Winterton calling for “an emergency plan to overcome the funding crisis”.

Cambridge is consulting the public on how to cut 3m over the next three years after an overspend by Cambridge City and South Cambridgeshire primary care trusts.

Suffolk Mental Health Partnership NHS trust faces a 5-10 per cent cut in its budget next year because of a debt inherited when two PCTs and a health authority merged.

A Department of Health spokesperson said: “We are aware of rumours about the financial position in mental health trusts and are examining the hard data.”