131. Evidence submitted by Mandy Lawrence
(PPI 26)
As a member of a MH PPI forum I have many concerns
in the way they run and are organised.
In the last few months two people died (one
person jumped off a car park, the other transferred from a psychiatric
unit to a general hospital where they died). Not only have the
Trust been very secretive about disclosing information but the
PPI members have done little to support my concerns that there
were potential issues regarding care provision and appropriate
safety support for these two individuals.
I feel that PPI forums are often dictated to
by the Trusts and members are muffled or pressure is put on for
them to tow Trust party lines.
Trust members are in constant attendance at
PPI meetings which does not allow PPI members to discuss issues,
as a forum, independently. This sways the power balance very much
towards the Trust who use bureaucracy and red tape to block questions
and concerns.
The Chairman of the PPIF resigned and the Vice
Chair took up a full time position and stood down from their duties,
which means that the small membership who attend (four or five
of us) have now to share Chairperson responsibilities with no
training. We asked if this training could be provided and were
told that no money was available. I find this appalling in light
of the fact that funding to attend PPIF conferences and events,
often miles outside of the county, are funded costing a lot more
than local and essential training would.
I think there is a specific issue for people
with mental health problems when trying to be involved in patient
and public arenas. There is little understanding of or appropriate
support and the care and well being of people with mental illness
comes a very poor last to maintaining systems and bureaucracies
that do nothing to help people to be involved fairly and effectively.
I just hope that the Link Networks are more
democratic and empathetic, less bureaucratic and very much independent
of service providers or other care organisations.
I also think any patient and public arena must
acknowledge that people with mental illness tend to be on very
low incomes and having to pay up front and claim back for expenses
such as travel can often leave them with more financial difficulties.
Mandy Lawrence
PPI Forum Member
5 January 2007
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