Mental health is soft target for NHS cuts, say MPs

Mental health services are “soft targets” for making savings in the NHS, a parliamentary committee has found.

The health select committee report on NHS deficits found deficits were the “main reason” for a reduction in spending plans in nearly two-thirds of mental health trusts in 2006-7.

The committee said the cuts meant a “significant step back” in the provision of mental health services, including a reduction in the number of mental health acute beds.

The committee found poor management of the NHS both on central and local levels had led to the multimillion pound deficits.