Party plans to transform mental health services

3.49.49pm UTC (GMT +0000) Wed 24th Sep 2008

Liz Leffman has hailed Liberal Democrat plans to improve equality and fairness in mental health provision in Hampshire as a 'crucial development'.

The proposals - debated and backed at the recent Liberal Democrat Autumn Conference in Bournemouth - include the ending of mixed sex wards and the prohibition of anyone below 18 being placed in a mental health ward.

Liz, Prospective Lib Dem MP for Meon Valley, said: "Mental health has been neglected for far too long in every part of the country, with a lack of access and a poor range of facilities being this government's legacy.

"If mental health is properly and adequately attended to from the beginning, with faster access, safer wards and a genuine quality of treatment, we will see the benefits on a far wider scale than just help for the individuals concerned."

Liz added: "These plans are a crucial development on the road to creating a fairer and better quality mental health service following the mess it has been left in."

NOTES:

Despite funding for mental health services increasing by more than £1.5 billion since 1999, those experiencing mental health problems continue to suffer unacceptable discrimination in terms of access to services and treatment.

Mental health has been estimated to cost the UK economy £48 billion every year in loss of output and cost of treatment.

The Lib Dem proposals include:

*The ending of mixed sex wards in mental health units

*An absolute prohibition on anyone below the age of 18 being placed in an adult mental health ward

*The application of the mental health guarantee standard to mentally ill prisoners

*The right to commission services outside the NHS if an individual experiences long delays in accessing mental health treatment