Care trust deficit forces Norfolk cuts

Funding for mental health services in Norfolk for 2006-7 has been cut by £3.4m due to a deficit in Norfolk Primary Care Trust.

This week, the trust said it was reducing spending in all areas, including mental health, due to a current deficit of about £50m.

In a statement, the trust said the deficit had led to a “disinvestment” of £3.4m from Norfolk and Waveney Mental Health Partnership NHS Trust.

Harold Bodmer, director of adult social services at Norfolk Council, said NHS deficits were putting joint health and social care services at risk.

“There is no doubt the situation is threatening our ability to implement the adult health and social care white paper,” he said.

Paul Thain, executive director for Norfolk and Waveney Mental Health Partnership NHS Trust, added: “We are doing all we can to ensure that reductions in our services affect the minimum number of our patients and make the minimum number of staff redundant.”