The deliberate disintegration of mental health services for vulnerable people at Camden Council London

 

Hi blog readers

I have been hearing from people in London about mental health services that are being withdrawn from vulnerable people living in Camden. I know this is happening all across England. So I put together a letter of complaint that I sent to the local NHS Trust and Camden Council. I also sent this as a letter to newspapers in London.

Here is what I wrote:

My name is Steve McCue and I am a dyslexia and inclusion specialist. I am writing to express my concerns about changes to mental health support by Camden Council. These changes do not appear to have based on medical need and, in my view, are a dereliction of Camden Council duty of care.

 My brother has struggled with his mental and physical health for many years. He has complex long term mental health issues. To be fair to Camden Council there has been support available for him to access. That is until recently. About a week or so ago people using The Greenwood Centre were informed they would no longer be able to access the Greenwood Centre. I believe they were given either one or two months’ notice of this. Not even the trainers were made aware of this by Camden Council.

 For most of the people attending the Greenwood Centre it has been a life line, a place of refuge, a place where they feel safe and socialise with others, a place where they can access support. My brother and others using the Greenwood Centre have been given no alternative and now have nowhere to go.

 From discussions with my brother, I know he, and many others, have been devastated by this news. I would even go as far as to say they feel Camden Council has betrayed them.

 I totally understand that times are difficult for everyone including Camden Council. But Camden Council is basically evicting vulnerable adults form the Greenwood Centre and leaving them with nowhere else to go. Is this what Camden Council considers to be, “supporting and enabling them to manage their physical and mental health?” I think not.

 I quote from Camden Council’s own website:

 “We understand that this is a worrying time for people with care and support needs, and for those who care for someone.

 As a Council we will do all we can to support you through this period of uncertainty. We have robust plans in place to keep vital services running during this period. We will continue supporting people who need care and support to manage their physical and mental health.”

 

Regards

 

Steve McCue