NHS deficits 'hit mental health'

The NHS is facing a deficit of at least £600m

Mental health services are being unfairly hit by the deficits problem gripping the NHS, MPs say.

The Tories said over a half of the NHS trusts providing mental health services have had to close wards despite none of them running up a deficit.

The health service overall is at least £600m in the red with hospitals largely responsible for the overspend.

But the government denied accusations it did not care about mental health, saying it was one of its priorities.

Traditionally, different parts of the NHS have helped out neighbouring trusts which have run up deficits.

There is no evidence to suggest mental health services are being disproportionately affected Rosie Winterton, health minister

But the Tories said it was particularly unfair to take resources from mental health trusts which already ran a "Cinderella service".

Shadow health minister Tim Loughton said 58% of trusts had had to close wards, while four out of five had introduced recruitment freezes.

"These cuts are the final straw for mental health services which are already the poor relation of the NHS.

"Many of these trusts are having to sacrifice parts of their budget when they have already had to shelve plans for further mental health provision in an effort to balance their books in the first place."

Liberal Democrat health spokesman Steve Webb added it would mean services were "cut to the bone".

But Louis Appleby, the government's mental health director, said it would be wrong to say people were being put at risk.

He said 11 out of 84 mental health trusts were being asked to make cuts, but added he was "not happy" with the situation.

Health Minister Rosie Winterton said: "Mental health remains a key priority. There is no evidence to suggest mental health services are being disproportionately affected."