Has no one the courage to oppose these health cuts?

Published: 5 November, 2010

• THE letter in last week’s Tribune seems to be a bit unfair to Islington Borough User Group (iBUG). It is not that group’s fault that it is reliant on Camden and Islington NHS Foundation Trust and Islington Council for its funding.  

As long as iBUG does not have independent funding, it is perhaps wise to remain silent. iBUG probably remembers all too well the fate of its sister organisation in Camden, CMHC, which had its funding withdrawn when it was too outspoken about mental health issues such as the closure of St Luke’s Hospital. No doubt the fact this silence ensures the continued payments to Peter Jones and the other officers of iBUG plays a part too.

More criticism is due to voluntary organisations such as Islington Mind and Umbrella, which will be left with the fallout from the trust’s bed closures. Islington Mind director Peter Nevins was a governor of the trust; and Gareth Pountain, chief executive of Umbrella, continues to represent Islington Voluntary Action Council on the trust’s council of governors. Neither has commented adversely about the trust’s plans to cut more than 100 beds. Voluntary Action Camden has also failed to utter any criticism

It is a sad situation for users of mental health services in Islington and Camden that there is no one with the courage to speak up on their behalf and oppose these cuts and the others that are on the way.

DANNY BLOOM
Tollington Park Road, N4

• AN ANONYMOUS letter last week suggested that Islington LINk (Local Involvement Network) is ignoring mental health issues in the borough.

Islington LINk exists to improve health and social care services for residents. The LINk has a strong programme of activities for collecting community views about experiences and needs in relation to local health and social care services. This includes the recent appointment of an outreach worker, who runs our project to Hear 1,000 Voices. We certainly hope that anyone who feels their needs are not being met, or will not be met in the future, will make contact with us.

As part of our research activities, we have just begun a project looking at mental health services for the deaf community, for which the experience of iBUG is very useful.

LINk is aware of changes to services in the borough, including to mental health services. We have a seat on the Islington Council health and wellbeing review committee, which last month examined changes to services at Barnet, Enfield and Haringey Mental Health Foundation Trust. The trust delivers mental health services to our borough under contract to Camden and Islington NHS Foundation Trust.

When the LINks were set up just over two years ago, there was one seat for service users on the board of governors at Camden and Islington NHS Foundation Trust. Camden LINk holds the existing service user seat on the board. Despite requests, the foundation trust refused to change its constitution to create another seat. Islington LINk would welcome a seat alongside Camden LINk on the board.

Islington LINk has just taken the lead in creating a group for LINks in the North Central London Sector (Barnet, Camden, Enfield, Haringey and Islington). This will enable us to work more closely with neighbouring LINks on cross-boundary matters, such as mental health services, in order to improve services. 

The more members we have, the easier it is for LINk to make a difference. We certainly urge everyone who has an interest in health and social care, particularly anyone who thinks their voice is not normally heard, to join Islington LINk. 

They can do this by calling Emma or Tam on 020 7832 5814, by emailing us at LINk@vai.org.uk, or by visiting our information stall at Central Library on the second Wednesday of the month from 10.30am to 2pm.

OLAV ERNSTZEN
Islington LINk chair
GERRY MCMULLAN, BOB DOWD
Vice-chairs