The government has issued an update on mental health services in Greater Manchester, addressing the concerns raised by an MP regarding the inadequate support and care for individuals with mental health issues in the region. This update comes in light of a series of crises among mental health providers in Greater Manchester, including whistleblowing incidents, safety concerns, and damning health watchdog reports.
The region's mental health care trusts have faced significant challenges, with both main trusts receiving negative feedback. The Manchester Evening News reported that people with severe mental illness in Manchester are more likely to die prematurely than anywhere else in the country. This alarming statistic highlights the urgent need for improved mental health services.
The demand for mental health care has skyrocketed across the nation, including Greater Manchester, following the pandemic. This surge in demand further exacerbates the existing challenges faced by mental health providers. The Independent MP for Gorton and Denton, Andrew Gwynne, raised a written question to the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, Wes Streeting, seeking an assessment of the adequacy of mental health services in Greater Manchester.
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary for the DHSC, Dr. Zubir Ahmed, acknowledged the issue, stating that people with mental health issues in Greater Manchester are not receiving the necessary support and care. To address this, the government is taking several measures. They are recruiting an additional 8,500 mental health workers, including psychiatrists, by the end of the current Parliament, which is more than halfway towards the target. This initiative aims to ease the pressure on busy mental health services.
The 10-Year Health Plan outlines ambitious plans to enhance mental health support across the country, including in Greater Manchester. The government aims to transform the mental health system, making it more accessible and effective. This transformation includes converting mental health services into 24/7 neighborhood centers, building on existing pilots, and investing up to £120 million to increase the number of mental health emergency departments to 85.
However, the region's largest mental health provider, Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust (GMMH), faced scrutiny in 2022 due to an undercover Panorama investigation into alleged abuse of vulnerable patients at the Edenfield Centre facility. The facility was shut down to new patients, and internal, independent, and criminal investigations were initiated. The trust received an 'inadequate' rating in 2023 and was warned to improve rapidly in June 2024, following concerns across all its services in Greater Manchester.
The Care Quality Commission (CQC) issued a warning regarding various issues, including a lack of effective governance systems, ligature risks, fire safety concerns, unsafe management of medicines, ward security systems, infection prevention and control risks, and staff not being up to date with mandatory training. Despite these concerns, bosses claim improvements have been made.
Before the Panorama episode aired, the Manchester Evening News had been reporting on the understaffing and trust failures in mental health services, which were cited in court as contributing to tragic deaths under the trust's care. The newspaper also highlighted that many promised improvements have not been progressing as planned and have even worsened over the years, despite the trust facing heightened scrutiny from the NHS.
Pennine Care NHS Foundation Trust, the other major mental health care provider in the region, was rated as requiring improvement by health watchdogs in 2019. Last year, health watchdogs visited units operated by Pennine Care due to safety concerns raised by whistleblowers and people using the units between June and October 2024. These concerns were found to be 'substantiated,' revealing breaches to people's safety and patients' consent to care and treatment. The CQC also identified a lack of staff with the right skills and training, serving the trust with a warning notice to make rapid changes.
Pennine Care provides mental health services across Bury, Rochdale, Oldham, Tameside, and Stockport, serving over 70,000 people as of 2023/24. GMMH, on the other hand, offers mental health services across Bolton, Manchester, Trafford, Wigan, and other areas of the northwest, serving over 97,000 people as of 2024.
