Manchester faces £2million funding cut

(3/5/02) Mental health services in Manchester face a £2 million cut in funding this financial year.

26 posts are to be axed, including the homeless mental health team, the Asian mental health services, all the acupuncture services, a psychology assistant post and a welfare rights post.

Other services are going to be reduced, including the eating disorder team, the horticultural project, admin posts and various managerial positions.

In contrast a PFI (private finance initiative) hospital in Wythenshawe has resulted in Manchester’s health economy going millions into the red.

Speaking at UNISON's annual health conference, general secretary Dave Prentis reiterated the union's opposition to PFI schemes.

"When the Labour government was re-elected last June, it was given a mandate to invest in our public services, to improve public services. It was given no mandate to privatise them, for taxpayers’ money to be siphoned off for private profit.

"Where is the evidence that hospitals acting like private businesses will improve health care? Where is the evidence that the private finance initiative is the best way of funding our crumbling hospital infrastructure?

“It is not value for money. It does not deliver one iota of better health care. It is an accounting fix, nothing more, nothing less. And future generations will pay the price."

More on UNISON’s health care unit.

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