On the eve of World Mental Health Day, Bedford’s Green Party councillors have won a motion put forward at Wednesday’s full council meeting to help protect the Borough’s mental health services.
The motion, which was unanimously supported, demands an immediate halt to planned cuts of mental health services by the East London NHS Foundation Trust (ELFT).
It also calls for urgent intervention from the Health Secretary and local MPs, and direct engagement from ELFT itself.
Speaking at the meeting, cllr Paul Edmonds (Green Party, Castle & Newnham), said: “The proposed reductions would directly affect services that support some of the most vulnerable members of our society, including adults and children experiencing severe mental health issues.
“The demand for mental health services has soared with referrals for children and young people increasing nationally from 40,000 to almost 120,000 a month since 2016.
“The consequences could be dire. More young people falling through the cracks, more families struggling to cope, potential increases in homelessness and more pressure on already overstretched emergency services.
“Additionally, Bedfordshire, along with other areas served by ELFT, has an above national average number of mental health professionals leaving due to stress and demoralization.
“By cutting funding, we risk driving more staff away and reducing the quality of care, placing an additional burden on those who remain.”
Cllr Abu Sultan (Labour, Cauldwell) also spoke for his support of the motion and expressed his disappointment at the lack of transparency from ELFT.
“The Darzi report made it abundantly clear that there has been chronic under-investment in mental health services for decades,” he said.
“We cannot afford to lose what little support we have. The long-term costs of untreated mental health issues, including increased healthcare costs, loss of productivity, and even higher crime rates, far outweigh any short-term savings.
“Moreover, the complete disregard shown to this Council is unacceptable. We learned of these cuts not from ELFT management, as should have been the case, but through Unite the Union.
“This lack of transparency and communication is a disservice to our community.”
The Darzi Report was an independent investigation of the NHS in England by Lord Darzi published in September 2024.
Councillors voted to support the motion and ELFT have now been invited to attend the next meeting of the Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee to update the council.
The council will also write to the Secretary of State for Health and local Members of Parliament, urging them to intervene to stop the planned cuts.
In a statement to the Local Democracy Reporting Service an East London NHS Foundation Trust spokesperson said: “Along with other NHS providers and integrated care systems across the country, ELFT is required to be financially responsible, including delivering on our annual efficiency requirements.
“We recognise the challenges faced by the NHS in the 2024/25 financial year, and we are working closely with service users, carers, staff, and our partners to maintain the delivery of high-quality, value-driven care to the communities we serve.
“We remain committed to engaging with stakeholders as we respond to these pressures and continue to prioritise the wellbeing of those who rely on our services.”
A spokesperson for the Green Party added, “The Green Party takes protecting mental health services seriously, particularly when demand for them is increasing.
“Opposition to proposed health cuts is part of a broader Green Party campaign to ensure that local services are adequately funded and that residents can access timely and effective mental health care.”
Additional reporting by John Guinn
Local Democracy Reporter
