Wyre Forest Labour Party has written to the Prime Minister calling for Wyre Forest to receive its fair share of mental health service funding in any increased NHS spending.

This follows a motion presented to the constituency’s latest general meeting by Stourport Labour Party Branch, which is one of 4 Labour Branches in the constituency.

The motion was passed unanimously and concerns were also expressed that despite a promise by the Government to increase NHS funding, it will not be enough to cope with the rising demand, nor address the level of cuts already endured.

Nationally, the issue of NHS funding is one that Labour has promised to address properly when in Government. This will include dealing with resolving the crisis in mental health funding and the damage being done to the fabric of our society caused by the neglect of these services by the Tory Govt.

Ben Davies, Labour Constituency Secretary said “Over 16 million people in the UK have a mental health problem, and 75% of these mental health issues start before their 18th birthday. As a young person myself, I find this statistic alarming, made worse when you consider that 75% of young people with a mental health problem are not receiving any treatment at all. Even if a child is lucky enough to be promised treatment, the average waiting time to receive help after symptoms first arise is 10 years. For instance, nationally, there’s been a 16% increase in hospital admissions for young people self harming yet referral services at A&E are poor to non existent, including at Worcester Royal. Wyre Forest is one of the highest areas for young people self harming in the County, and the County has a higher self-harm rate than the West Midlands. This is a damning, yet preventable indictment, of this Tory government’s failure to address the issues and the desperate concerns of local people.”

Stephen Brown, Party Press Officer added “When I first moved to Wyre Forest over 10 years ago, I was immediately conscious of the passion and concern that local people have for their NHS. Indeed, I’ve been involved in many local campaigns since then to protect our NHS and health services, including chairing the cross-party Kidderminster Hospital Alliance. However, I came to the conclusion that the root of the problem is Tory Govt policy, its deliberate underfunding of the NHS, and our local Tory MP’s attempts to deflect the blame on to local NHS management for its failure to cope with the rising demand and underfunding. When the mental health service at Harvington Ward at Kidderminster Hospital was closed not so long ago, despite the public consultation calling for it to stay open, our MP offered up no objection, nor did he think it worthy of any comment at all. Yet, at the same time, he says he wants to protect services at our local hospital. Therein lies the problem. He’s just full of hot air, he doesn’t really care. Those in authority constantly dress up cuts as improvements to services. There is zero accountability of those destroying our services. People are being taken for mugs.”

The letter calling for Wyre Forest to get it’s fair share of mental health funding will also be sent to MP Mark Garnier.

Full text of Motion agreed by the whole Wyre Forest Labour constituency:

“Stourport Branch Labour Party welcomes the Government’s promise of more funding for the National Health Service. However, fine words are never enough, and we call upon the Government to ensure that mental health services, including the Child & Adolescent Mental Health Service, receive a fair share of the additional investment”.

Copy of letter to Prime Minister:

Dear Prime Minister,

I am writing to advise you that Wyre Forest Labour Party has discussed the worrying state of mental health services and their funding at our constituency general meeting.

Concerns were expressed that despite your Government’s promise to increase mental health funding, it will not be enough to cope with the rising demand, nor necessarily address the level of cuts already endured to restore services to their previous level. The meeting was particularly worried about the impact on child and adolescent services because we believe the young people of this country are being failed by mental health service provision. Indeed, 75% of young people in need of these services receive no help at all, demand is rising, and those young people who self-harm are being failed by the system.

Nevertheless, we welcome the Government’s promise to increase funding for the NHS and call upon you to ensure mental health services receive their fair share of this funding.

The full text of the motion passed is as follows:

“Stourport Branch Labour Party welcomes the Government’s promise of more funding for the National Health Service. However, fine words are never enough, and we call upon the Government to ensure that mental health services, including the Child & Adolescent Mental Health Service, receive a fair share of the additional investment”.

Yours faithfully,

Ben Davies

Secretary

Wyre Forest Labour Party