54. Evidence submitted by West London
Mental Health Trust PPI Forum (PPI 45)
As a committed and growing PPI Forum we welcome
the continuation of the chance to continue to input and oversee
the debate of mental health provision under the WLMHT. Much has
been achieved by our Forum and we are determined to continue our
work.
However, under the new proposals, this Forum
will be split up by the proposal of LINKs based on borough boundaries.
In effect this means that the WLMHT will have three forums (LINKs)
to work with, therefore replicating their work three times (possibly
not a good use of public funds). Furthermore, we, as a forum,
will be split and our support and concern and experience of the
WLMHT will be similarly diluted.
As we are all well aware, mental health continues
to be stigmatized despite the fact that nearly a third of all
workers will suffer from a mental health problem and more incapacity
benefit is paid out for mental health problems than back pain.
In order to protect such an important and specialist
service we propose that a structure is set up between the three
LINKs as a single committee for mental health. This will ensure
that vital knowledge is kept within the community to best serve
the Trust and its users.
West London Mental Health Trust PPI Forum
8 January 2007
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