“Last week the Care Quality Commission rated the Norfolk and Suffolk Mental Health Trust as inadequate. Again. The fourth time in a decade that the organisation has been put into special measures. This is obviously hugely disappointing and completely unacceptable. The Trust has been in a recovery support programme with the NHS for some time, but it hasn’t made anywhere near enough progress, to the detriment of patients and their families. With patient safety at risk and the conclusion from the CQC that previous lessons from patient deaths haven’t been learnt, fundamental reform is required. Not only have patients been let down but staff haven’t received the level of training and supervision required from management. We now need a much greater and more effective effort from NHS Improvement to make the mental health service better. To break the cycle of failure of the organisation, I’m strongly of the view that the trust needs to be split back in two – and I will be making that clear to ministers. Mental health support in our part of the country needs a fresh start and new leadership.
In happier news, I’m glad that the good weather over Easter has provided a great fillip for our tourist industry now that Covid restrictions are behind us. Late last year, I was proud to show the Tourism Minister around some of the highlights of our visitor economy that is so important for jobs here in Suffolk. As we head towards the Jubilee weekend, I’m sure local businesses will be making the most of the forthcoming celebrations. My diary is filling up fast.
Finally, following recent correspondence with British Gas, I wanted to advertise their support fund for families struggling with rising energy bills. If you’re a British Gas customer with energy debt of £250 you could be entitled to no-strings grant to help you get ahead. More details on their website. As I conducted an inquiry into it many years ago, I know there are also various buying groups out there for those of us who are off the gas grid to ensure lower prices of heating oil. Helpfully East Suffolk Council have also pooled together some great advice on energy efficiency and keeping bills down on their website. Go to www.eastsuffolk.gov.uk/housing/energy-efficiency-and-warm-homes. Suffolk County Council have also been given over £5m from central government to support households that would otherwise struggle to buy food or pay utility bills – with at least a third of it required to go to pensioners and another third to families with children. Again details on their website.”