Rise In Unexpected Deaths Shows Mental Health Services Are Under-Funded - Farron

The under-funding of mental health services has been highlighted by a rise in the number of serious incidents and deaths reported at Cumbria Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, according to South Lakes MP Tim Farron.

There has been a rise in the number of serious incidents reported at Cumbria Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, with 131 serious incidents reported in 2014/15 including 52 unexpected deaths.

The figures from NHS England were unearthed by the Liberal Democrat Health spokesperson Norman Lamb, and cover serious incidents reported between 2012-2013 and 2014-2015.

Tim said: "It is extremely concerning to see this increase in the number of serious incidents, and particularly in the number of unexpected deaths. There is clearly a serious and urgent need for proper mental health provision, yet the government is still not taking it seriously.

"These figures show how critical it is for Clinical Commissioning groups to focus equally on both mental and physical health. For far too long, mental health has not received the attention that it needs. When budgets are under pressure, it's the unprotected mental health services that suffer.

"Cumbria Partnership NHS Foundation Trust do a good job with the resources they have, but it's clear that mental health desperately needs more resources. People are losing their lives as a result of this horrific under-funding. We must take mental health seriously and give it the funding it needs."