Mental health drugs overused
Up to one in three mental health patients are being over-prescribed drugs, says the Healthcare Commission.
12 Jan 2007
Up to one in three mental health patients are being over-prescribed drugs, says the Healthcare Commission.
A major spending boost is needed if mental health care is to meet the government's expectations for 2010/11, a charity has warned. Sainsbury Centre for Mental Health examined the resources needed to meet the government's 10-year National Service Framework. It says public spending on mental health care must increase by a further 50% over and above inflation. And staff numbers must increase by almost 40% to meet the targets.
Commenting on today's [Friday] report from the Sainsbury Centre for Mental Health showing what would be needed to meet the ten-year National Service Framework for adult mental health care, Liberal Democrat Health Spokesperson, Sandra Gidley MP said:
Computer technology is helping doctors identify patients with long-term conditions at risk of deterioration, before they need hospital care. Using patient information from a range of sources, a new programme predicts when people with conditions such as asthma will take a turn for the worse.
A cancer patient says he is planning to move from England to Scotland to be sure of getting a drug which may prolong his life on the NHS. George King, from Skelton, Teeside has a rare terminal form of bone cancer. It is currently in remission, but when it returns he wants the treatment which may extend his life - the drug Velcade.
A Blind pensioner was told to "put his arm out" if he wanted to catch his bus after several services failed to stop for him. Robert Morley uses the number 68 Arriva service four times a week to travel into Derby city centre from his home in Osmaston Road.