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SALFORD COUNCIL TO PRIVATISE MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT SERVICE
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Star date: 7th May 2013
STOP PRIVATISATION OF SALFORD MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES
Public Meeting Tuesday 7th May 6pm Buile Hill Conference Centre
Salford's Labour councillors are currently delivering a newsletter around Salford which features an article quite rightly opposing the privatisation of Fire Services. Unfortunately the same councillors are proposing to privatise the city's Mental Health Support Services. There's a public meeting tonight where speakers will underline how privatisation will adversely affect service users.
Full details here… |
click image to enlarge
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A newsletter called Labour Voice is currently being delivered around Salford featuring an article opposing the "Government's Backdoor Plan to Privatise Fire Services".
The excellent article criticises "plans to allow fire services to be sold off", arguing that "local people need to have confidence that fire-fighting in our area is being run for public protection, not company profit…private firm often cost more and deliver less than promised when they bid to take over public service".
Unfortunately the Labour Party's Mayor Ian Stewart, his Assistants and Councillors are proposing to do exactly the same thing with Salford's Mental Health Support Services. Except, they call it `outsourcing'. (see previous Salford Star article click here)
"The privatisation of the Floating Support Workers threatens and undermines a large area of Mental Health provision in Salford" says Kevin Corran, Membership Officer, Salford City UNISON "The three residential units, Hollybank, Ingleside and Victoria Crescent provide expert recovery and support, and the Community Care Worker service that focus on recovery of service users in the community, are in line for privatisation.
"This process will not only attack the terms and conditions of these workers but will also reduce the quality of the service that they provide" he adds "These dedicated, experienced and highly trained staff provide a vital service to the city of Salford. This attempt at privatisation of these in house services is an attack on some of the most vulnerable people in Salford when they are reeling from the impact of the Bedroom Tax, Council Tax cuts, dealings with ATOS and cuts to benefits."
Steve Cullen, of Salford's United Service Users Committee (USUC) adds:
"Without the Community Care Workers involvement in groups and drop-ins, we feel they won't exist. If the Community Care Workers are privatised we feel service users won't get the same level of support, and many more people will end up in relapse, in A&E with self harm attempted suicide. More people will be lost in the system."
The message of tonight's public meeting at Buile Hill Conference Centre is `Don't Privatise Mental Health Services'. We do hope those councillors and Assistant Mayors and the Mayor, who are intending to vote for the privatisation, will attend and explain the difference between opposing privatisation of Fire Services and opposing privatisation of Mental Health Support Services.
Public Meeting Tuesday 7th May 6pm Buile Hill Conference Centre Buile Hill Park, Eccles Old Road M6 8GL
Speakers: Sheila Coleman (Unite Community NW), Karen Reissmann (UNISON NEC) and Kevin Bennett (Warrington Anti Cuts rebel councillor).
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Michael Felse wrote
at 2:19:52 PM on Wednesday, May 8, 2013 |
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As a Dementia Friend volunteer I praise the work of our mental health groups and urge Mayor Steward to live up to the Labour pledge to protect vulnerable people. Any action to privatise is the thin end of the worst edge in our society. Salford has no place for anyone group will not protect people in need. |
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not a brain dead labour voter wrote
at 11:45:36 AM on Wednesday, May 8, 2013 |
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to Michael false, are you running for the vacant position of councillor in weaste & seedley, and do you know what party to run for, seeing you've had a few in the past, you could even start your own party, may I suggest the walter mitty party or one flew over the cuck-coo's nest party. Winston Smith, your right about Southern Cross, but wasn't they privatised by the ultra left wing socialist labour party or at least there was no opposition to it from them, lets face the facts, this labour council ( and nationally ) including Ian Stewart are just champaign drinking socialists, now that they have got their noses in the trough of council tax payers money, why should they give a fig about the people of Salford or any thing that concerns them. remember the quote, education will set you free and make the world your oyster, that's why labour hate education. keep them brain dead, and they will always keep voting labour. ps Michael when are you going trigger a salfordgate inquiry, or are we now to far up Ian Stewart arse for that to happen. if Salford labour council was a private business, for sale and someone came in and looked at the books they wouldn't touch it with a barge pole. I look forward with relish to the salfordgate inquiry . |
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steve U.S.U.C. wrote
at 8:05:07 AM on Wednesday, May 8, 2013 |
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With regards to Tom,you mustn't know anybody who suffers with a mental health issue or spoke to any.We have been saying we don't wont private support service,with this groups & drop-ins would close,because private providers cant make MONEY out of them,plus you would not get the same level of support.
To outsider & concerned not it is not solely about saving,we have been told by SCC &GMWMH That they want to reinvest £20.000 if groups & drop-ins are run from shared Community Building & NOT Community Mental Health Buildings.
Next time we have a public meeting why don't you come along & listen to others & maybe have your say. |
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Outsider wrote
at 2:16:37 AM on Wednesday, May 8, 2013 |
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Any option regarding out-sourcing is done to save money, is the current cost of the service is say £100k then the council will want it done cheaper to save, how do you get the same service with less money? And by the way the "third sector" are the worst, publicly funded with NO accountability. |
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Concerned wrote
at 2:41:28 PM on Tuesday, May 7, 2013 |
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They should offer the mental health service to the third sector in Salford who know the system and the people but can save funds without cutting services and possibly even provide more for the money
http://www.guardian.co.uk/local-government-network/2013/mar/14/local-authorities-mental-health-help |
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Winston Smith wrote
at 9:35:04 AM on Tuesday, May 7, 2013 |
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Tom, I'm almost tempted to hope you get your wish, but I'm not that vindictive. Have you never heard of private 'healthcare' company Southern Cross? Abuse of vulnerable 'customers' as well as a financial train wreck. And you want someone like this in charge of *mental health*? http://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/250895/The-abuse-shame-past-of-crisis-hit-Southern-Cross |
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Tom Andrews wrote
at 8:33:15 AM on Tuesday, May 7, 2013 |
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I think its an excellent idea to outsource this service and instead of worrying about imagined problems, lets see what improvements can be made to the service. The service users and their needs come first and private service providers will make improvements to the service. That is the right way to go, outsourcing more services will help improve services and reduce costs. |
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Michael Felse wrote
at 8:32:35 AM on Tuesday, May 7, 2013 |
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As a Unison member I praise the move to Stop the Rot in them calling for NO Deterioration in our Services. Today at 11am I deliver a legally binding document to Salford Council triggering the by-election in Weaste and Seedley which I see as a No To Bedroom Tax call that will shame all our City Councillors into shape. I triggered the Donnygate inquiry that brought down the rot in that Labour Council and I will attack any Salford Councillor, any Party, that does not protect our local people. |
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I was a teacher at PWHS when you were there Guy Otten.
I remember the staff meeting. "Go".
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