Health Funding Cut is 'Threat to the Vulnerable'.

So, as promised, the big menatal health story. Now, I can only take the credit for around 80 per cent of this. The immigration angle was not my doing at all, and was added during the subbing process at some point. This was something of a surprise, but, as I am coming to learn, what ends up on paper is not always what you send the subs. So here it is, (with the subbing addition in red.) This appeared as the lead on page 14 of the Nov 2nd Ham & High. The images are my own.

Health Funding Cut is 'Threat to the Vulnerable'.

Westminster faces a £25.3 million cut from its social care funding if radical government reforms go ahead.

Local authorities across London have been forced to brace themselves against the threat of losing a drastic £420 million from their budget under the reforms.

The moves would slash funding for the physically and mentally disabled, drug and alcohol rehabilitation, and mental health services.

Abbey Road mental health centre: facing an uncertain future
if planned government cuts go ahead.

The warning from London Councils, the group which represents all of London's 33 councils, comes at a time when social care funding in the capital is already overstretched.

More then 80 per cent of London councils have been forced to restrict their services to those with substantial or critical needs.

Westminster is currently able to provide care to people with moderate levels of need but if reforms go ahead the future is uncertain.

Health boss Cllr Edward Argar said: "If this new formula is introduced, we risk facing a severe shortage in our funding for social care.

"This would impact upon some of the most vulnerable people in our society.

"It does not take full account of people with complex needs, such as those with mental health or drug problems, many of whom are often attracted to the anonymity and bright lights of places like Westminster."

"At a time when the pressure upon adult social care is increasing for a variety of reasons, it is vital that services such as these get the resources they need to support people.

"We are determined to continue to provide the excellent services we do now. This really makes an impact on people's lives.

"To do that it is vital that the government ensures that we get the long term funding that is needed, rather than tinkering with spending."

An announcement on the proposals is expected in the coming months, when ministers will make final decisions over how funding is distributed until 2011.

Ministers are threatening to remove protection that prevents cuts to social services grants in several regions.

But critics have been quick to point out that the new formula unfairly discriminates against urban areas. And they say the cuts will be doubly damaging considering the extra pressure put on the capitals resources by an influx of migrants.

Finance boss Cllr Colin Barrow said: "There are many benefits to hard working migrants living and working in our city, but we are concerned about the inability of official statistics to keep up with the pace of change that means a rising number of councils are not receiving the government funding they need.

"Official statistics do not take account of people who say they are coming to the UK for less than 12 months and places like Westminster attract huge numbers of these 'short term' migrants.

"At present the government prefers to ignore these people, as they are too difficult for them to measure, rather than fund services to support them."

During a survey of 70 psychiatrists by the mental health charity SANE, two thirds said that "more funding, more staff and beds, and better facilities for patients are all crucial for the improvement of mental health care".