Public meeting about EIJB cuts
Free tickets for a public meeting about the effect of cuts by the Edinburgh Integration Joint Board (EIJB) on mental health services in the capital have 'sold out'.
While the EIJB will not meet to discuss the cuts until 17 June, charity Change Mental Health has set up a town hall style meeting which will be attended by around 1,200 people.
The charity says the EIJB are now reviewing Thrive contracts worth £1.8million – with a view to cut services to close their deficit.
'But this doesn't add up:
Cuts to cheaper and more effective community services will only increase demand on GPs, A&E, social work and other statutory services.
These services are already at breaking point.
Early intervention and prevention saves money in the long run and can lead to better clinical outcomes.
'Come along to our public meeting, hear directly from the charities and people involved, and join us to organise a stop to cuts to Let Edinburgh Thrive'
Change Mental Health says its centre in Edinburgh saves the NHS up to £4.4 million a year in psychiatric related hospital admissions.
The Stafford Centre which runs early intervention and prevention-based services in Broughton Street offers support to more than 640 people. It also provides an additional 9,870 hours of mental health care under the Thrive programme which is delivered by several organisations and charities.
The Edinburgh Thrive Collective is an award-winning programme for delivering mental health services in Edinburgh. The charities and the public sector work together to deliver community mental health services and support in Edinburgh – including vital early intervention and prevention measures.
The cuts which are planned by The Edinburgh Integration Joint Board (EIJB) have been severe for the third sector organisations affected – but a spokesperson for the mental health charity Change said these cuts will not only be devastating for their organisation but for community mental health all over Edinburgh.
He said: 'Edinburgh could potentially be left as an outlier in Western Europe where other cities continue to invest in community-based mental health services'.
At Holyrood
Foysol Choudhury MSP raised the matter at a recent session of First Minister's Questions. Mr Choudhury asked First Minister, John Swinney: 'The First Minister talks about prevention, but the Edinburgh Integration Joint Board is being forced to make cuts to preventative care and third sector organisations, including the Stafford Centre, which supports 640 people with mental health issues and is estimated to save the NHS up to £4.4 million in hospital admissions. Given the situation in joint boards across Scotland, does the First Minister recognise that prevention will not be possible if IJBs are in permanent financial crisis?'
The First Minister replied: 'Obviously, I want to make sure that the types of services that Mr Choudhury has raised are supported around the country. Those are operational decisions for integration joint boards to make. They can make those decisions based only on the financial allocations that this Parliament makes, and Mr Choudhury was unable to support the allocations of funding that the Government made to cover such services.
'We will certainly work with the integration joint boards, but Mr Choudhury cannot be absolved of his responsibility for failing to support the budget, which is delivering the investment that is necessary in health and social care. [Interruption.] The Labour Party members can moan at me all they want about the public finances but they have not been prepared to put the money in to support people in the communities of Scotland.'
Jeremy Balfour MSP for Lothian asked a question on a similar vein. He asked: 'I have been contacted by numerous charities in my region that will have to cease providing vital preventative care for individuals in the Lothians due to the IJB cuts. The First Minister said that he wants to lay aside politics and do the best for the people of Scotland. Will he now intervene in the crisis to make sure that NHS Lothian does not cut the budget to the IJB? That cut would put vulnerable people out of the services that they require. Rather than talk about previous measures, will he now be proactive in working with NHS Lothian and the council to make sure that the IJB gets the appropriate funding?'
The First Minister replied: 'The Government engages with health boards around the country, and local authorities have their own decisions to make as part of the IJB structures. We will engage constructively in any way that we can to help on those issues.
'Mr Balfour is another one who comes here and asks me to invest in local services, when his party leader wants me to cut public expenditure by £1 billion. How will that help IJBs around the country?
'I will not tire of pointing out the total and utter hypocrisy of the people who come here asking for tax cuts and wanting me to spend more money. It is hypocrisy on stilts.'
Miles Briggs MSP asp asked a question about the same topic. He said: 'As we have already heard, the proposals by the Edinburgh integration joint board are likely to see key services cut, including drop-in support, carers services and, even as we mark victory in Europe day, veterans support services. The First Minister apportioned blame, but the cuts are not acceptable. The IJB will cut £29 million from services in Edinburgh. Does he think that our health services will be improved by the decisions that are being taken by the IJB? Will he agree to meet the cross-party group of MSPs who are trying to raise the issue in Parliament and who have just had the First Minister whack this back at us? We need action and we want the First Minister to take heed of that today.'
Mr Swinney responded: 'I am simply being straight with the Parliament about the realities that we have to face. That is what I am doing.
'I understand the issues that Miles Briggs is raising with me. I am totally familiar with them and I understand the importance of them. I have just answered Mr Whittle about the importance of a focus on preventative interventions, and many of the interventions that Mr Briggs is talking about are preventative interventions.
'However, the point that I am making to the Parliament is that investment in those services does not happen by accident. It happens by political choice. Mr Briggs was one of those who voted against the Government's budget and he argued in favour, as his leader did, of £1 billion of cuts in public expenditure. How does Mr Briggs think that it would be possible to invest in local services with £1 billion of swingeing cuts from the Conservatives?'
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Edinburgh Live
a day ago
- Edinburgh Live
Edinburgh woman fears 'life-changing' charity will disappear from funding cuts
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info A woman who dropped out of university amid a battle with mental illness says an Edinburgh charity at risk of critical funding cuts 'changed her life'. Lauren Stonebanks, 45, atteded four and a half years of medical school at the University of Edinburgh before dropping in 2002 out when her mental health "deteriorated". The Meadowbank resident went through a slew of diagnoses in following years - including depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, and borderline personality disorder - before an Edinburgh charity turned her life around. Lauren discovered CAPS in 2011 and has been an active member of the independent advocacy organisation for 14 years. However, the charity is looking down the barrel of extensive funding cuts from the Edinburgh Integrated Joint Board (EIJB), which announced its intention to make £2.2 million in cuts to social care charities. CAPS offers individual and collective advocacy, providing safe spaces to explore shared issues. Lauren soon found a community of accepting people with similar experiences. According to advocates at CAPS, they provide the only pathway for people diagnosed with personality disorders in Edinburgh and the Lothians. They worry that without their services, people with personality disorders will not have access the life-saving community that CAPS facilitates. (Image: Edinburgh Live) After receiving a diagnosis for borderline personality disorder, Lauren said she was initially devastated. She later was re-diagnosed as having ADHD and autism, but says CAPS taught her to battle the stigma associated with her original diagnosis. She said: "I spent two weeks feeling absolutely dreadful. There's not much good said about people with borderline personality disorder. It's all bad. That's what I was being taught in the late 90s and early noughties. "[CAPS] changed my life because it showed positives. It just changed my entire perspective on it. I wasn't toxic, I wasn't a monster. I wasn't manipulative and evil. I was somebody in a lot of pain and trauma, and just as deserving of compassion." Through CAPS' commitment to collective advocacy, Lauren began using her lived experience with mental illness to educate social care professionals on how to work positively with people with personality disorders. She began delivering training for mental health nursing students at Napier University as well as occupational therapy students, art therapy students, clinical psychologists, and social workers. She also organises exhibitions and advocates for LGBTQ and minority ethnic people. Lauren added: "I can make a difference to the attitudes of all those people." Prior to CAPS, she reported being too shy to speak to people. She continued: "It made such a difference." CAPS services are facing the axe this year with potential funding cuts from the EIJB and millions of pounds of funding cuts to social care charities on the docket. When Lauren found out about the proposed cuts, she said: "I cried, and then I got angry. "[At CAPS] I've gained a family. My [biological] family was kind of emotionally abusive and not accepting of my sexuality or gender identity. They also didn't [understand] the mental health stuff and kind of blame blamed me." She spoke on the change in her confidence CAPS has afforded her in her 14 years of involvement: "I used to run away if I had to give presentations, I would flee and speak in front of people. It gave me the confidence to actually challenge the diagnosis." Join Edinburgh Live's Whatsapp Community here and get the latest news sent straight to your messages. Katharina Kasper, Chair of the Edinburgh Integration Joint Board said: "The IJB funds a range of non-statutory services with third sector providers, through block contracts and service level agreements. We are currently carrying out a review of this spend, with the aim of reducing annual spend by £2.2 million. This will enable us to focus scarce resources on the provision of core, statutory services which help keep the people who most need our help safe and well cared for, while allowing our partners to meet their legal duties. "We have decided to take more time to consider this proposal until the IJB meets on August 26. This is to make sure we have taken the time to fully understand the services being provided, to assess the data and evidence on the impacts of any changes, and to consider the concerns raised by providers, service users and others. "We recognise the concern this may cause, however we are now in a position where unfortunately these difficult decisions have to be made in order to protect the essential support we provide for some of Edinburgh's most vulnerable people."
Edinburgh Live
2 days ago
- Edinburgh Live
Meeting to decide the fate of 'lifeline' mental health services in Edinburgh pushed back
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info A formal meeting to decide on proposed funding cuts to an Edinburgh mental health charity's "lifeline" services has been pushed back. The proposals put forward by the Edinburgh Integration Joint Board (EIJB) would see a potential £188,000 funding cut to The Stafford Centre on Broughton Street. Change Mental Health, which encompasses the Stafford Centre, say that these cuts would make it impossible for the vital centre to continue to operate. Now, the Edinburgh Health and Social Care Partnership (EHSCP) have decided to further delay formal consideration of their proposal until the IJB meets on August, 26. In an email to services that would be impacted by the intended £2.2 million in cuts to social care charities, Christine Laverty, the chief officer of the EHSCP, said: "I wrote to you on April 4 regarding the review of your contract or service level agreement with the Edinburgh Health and Social Care Partnership, letting you know that the decision on contract-related savings would be taken to the Integration Joint Board (IJB) on 17 June. "Since then, many of you will have attended Integrated Impact Assessments (IIAs) to understand and consider the impact of these proposed savings. There are still some IIA meetings to take place over the coming weeks, to ensure that each group of contracts is considered consistently and potential impacts are captured. "I want to thank you all for the time and effort that you have put into these meetings. Your input has been invaluable and has really helped us to ensure that this process is carried out as fairly and robustly as possible. "I want to be sure that we have taken adequate time to fully understand the data and evidence relating to each individual contract or service level agreement, and that we have considered the concerns which have been raised by providers, both through the IIA sessions and separately. "On that basis, I have discussed with the Chair and Vice-Chair of the IJB and we have agreed to further delay formal consideration of this proposal until the IJB meets on 26 August 2025. "I am aware that this delay may increase uncertainty amongst providers, staff and service users, however, it will help ensure that recommendations to the IJB are robust and evidence-based." The decision comes after a public meeting held on Monday, May 26 organised by service providers impacted by the EIJB cuts. The meeting was attended by EIJB members, such as Chair Katharina Kasper and Vice Chair Tim Pogson, who fielded questions from service users. During the forum, EIJB members were implored to halt the cuts and give more time to consult with affected organisations. CEO of Change Mental Health Nick Ward, told Ms Kasper: 'We're not given meetings. We're told to go through a process with a tick form asking the most basic questions. We are not being treated as partners, we are not being treated as equals, and that is the problem.' The Stafford Centre provides drop-in mental health services such as counselling, peer support groups, and art therapy, and deliver targeted support to vulnerable groups through specialised programmes, such as offering support to men - who are at higher risk to suicide - and to veterans. Edinburgh Live previously spoke to Jim Hume, director of public affairs and communication at Change Mental Health. At that time he said: ""The Stafford Centre is essential. It supports people with post traumatic stress, with serious mental illness. It supports people with financial worries with their mental health. It's a lifeline for many people - there are 640 individuals every year supported at that centre. "There was a change with Covid. It had a lasting effect. Depression during Covid doubled. And anytime there is uncertainty with finances - money is tight at the moment - it can affect mental health." Without the EIJB funding, Jim says Change Edinburgh could not run the Stafford Centre. He continued: "We'd have to find funds, but it's not possible in such a short period as they're talking about. "We're calling for there to be more time to consider options - rather than leaving people behind in the process." In an effort to protect the centre's vital mental health services, a petition has been launched. It reads: "The Stafford Centre has been a beacon of hope and support in Edinburgh, offering tailored mental health services that cater to the unique needs of each individual. "For years, it has been a safe space for those dealing with mental health challenges, providing therapy, counselling, and a supportive community." More information on the petition and how to sign it can be found here. If you're struggling and need to talk, the Samaritans operate a free helpline open 24/7 on 116 123. Alternatively, you can email jo@ or visit their site to find your local branch.
Edinburgh Reporter
6 days ago
- Edinburgh Reporter
Public meeting about EIJB cuts
Free tickets for a public meeting about the effect of cuts by the Edinburgh Integration Joint Board (EIJB) on mental health services in the capital have 'sold out'. While the EIJB will not meet to discuss the cuts until 17 June, charity Change Mental Health has set up a town hall style meeting which will be attended by around 1,200 people. The charity says the EIJB are now reviewing Thrive contracts worth £1.8million – with a view to cut services to close their deficit. 'But this doesn't add up: Cuts to cheaper and more effective community services will only increase demand on GPs, A&E, social work and other statutory services. These services are already at breaking point. Early intervention and prevention saves money in the long run and can lead to better clinical outcomes. 'Come along to our public meeting, hear directly from the charities and people involved, and join us to organise a stop to cuts to Let Edinburgh Thrive' Change Mental Health says its centre in Edinburgh saves the NHS up to £4.4 million a year in psychiatric related hospital admissions. The Stafford Centre which runs early intervention and prevention-based services in Broughton Street offers support to more than 640 people. It also provides an additional 9,870 hours of mental health care under the Thrive programme which is delivered by several organisations and charities. The Edinburgh Thrive Collective is an award-winning programme for delivering mental health services in Edinburgh. The charities and the public sector work together to deliver community mental health services and support in Edinburgh – including vital early intervention and prevention measures. The cuts which are planned by The Edinburgh Integration Joint Board (EIJB) have been severe for the third sector organisations affected – but a spokesperson for the mental health charity Change said these cuts will not only be devastating for their organisation but for community mental health all over Edinburgh. He said: 'Edinburgh could potentially be left as an outlier in Western Europe where other cities continue to invest in community-based mental health services'. At Holyrood Foysol Choudhury MSP raised the matter at a recent session of First Minister's Questions. Mr Choudhury asked First Minister, John Swinney: 'The First Minister talks about prevention, but the Edinburgh Integration Joint Board is being forced to make cuts to preventative care and third sector organisations, including the Stafford Centre, which supports 640 people with mental health issues and is estimated to save the NHS up to £4.4 million in hospital admissions. Given the situation in joint boards across Scotland, does the First Minister recognise that prevention will not be possible if IJBs are in permanent financial crisis?' The First Minister replied: 'Obviously, I want to make sure that the types of services that Mr Choudhury has raised are supported around the country. Those are operational decisions for integration joint boards to make. They can make those decisions based only on the financial allocations that this Parliament makes, and Mr Choudhury was unable to support the allocations of funding that the Government made to cover such services. 'We will certainly work with the integration joint boards, but Mr Choudhury cannot be absolved of his responsibility for failing to support the budget, which is delivering the investment that is necessary in health and social care. [Interruption.] The Labour Party members can moan at me all they want about the public finances but they have not been prepared to put the money in to support people in the communities of Scotland.' Jeremy Balfour MSP for Lothian asked a question on a similar vein. He asked: 'I have been contacted by numerous charities in my region that will have to cease providing vital preventative care for individuals in the Lothians due to the IJB cuts. The First Minister said that he wants to lay aside politics and do the best for the people of Scotland. Will he now intervene in the crisis to make sure that NHS Lothian does not cut the budget to the IJB? That cut would put vulnerable people out of the services that they require. Rather than talk about previous measures, will he now be proactive in working with NHS Lothian and the council to make sure that the IJB gets the appropriate funding?' The First Minister replied: 'The Government engages with health boards around the country, and local authorities have their own decisions to make as part of the IJB structures. We will engage constructively in any way that we can to help on those issues. 'Mr Balfour is another one who comes here and asks me to invest in local services, when his party leader wants me to cut public expenditure by £1 billion. How will that help IJBs around the country? 'I will not tire of pointing out the total and utter hypocrisy of the people who come here asking for tax cuts and wanting me to spend more money. It is hypocrisy on stilts.' Miles Briggs MSP asp asked a question about the same topic. He said: 'As we have already heard, the proposals by the Edinburgh integration joint board are likely to see key services cut, including drop-in support, carers services and, even as we mark victory in Europe day, veterans support services. The First Minister apportioned blame, but the cuts are not acceptable. The IJB will cut £29 million from services in Edinburgh. Does he think that our health services will be improved by the decisions that are being taken by the IJB? Will he agree to meet the cross-party group of MSPs who are trying to raise the issue in Parliament and who have just had the First Minister whack this back at us? We need action and we want the First Minister to take heed of that today.' Mr Swinney responded: 'I am simply being straight with the Parliament about the realities that we have to face. That is what I am doing. 'I understand the issues that Miles Briggs is raising with me. I am totally familiar with them and I understand the importance of them. I have just answered Mr Whittle about the importance of a focus on preventative interventions, and many of the interventions that Mr Briggs is talking about are preventative interventions. 'However, the point that I am making to the Parliament is that investment in those services does not happen by accident. It happens by political choice. Mr Briggs was one of those who voted against the Government's budget and he argued in favour, as his leader did, of £1 billion of cuts in public expenditure. How does Mr Briggs think that it would be possible to invest in local services with £1 billion of swingeing cuts from the Conservatives?' Like this: Like Related
