Threat to psychotherapy services run from Guy's and St. Thomas's Hospitals

Open letter soliciting support: 15th November 1996

21st November 1996

Dear ...

Re: THREATENED CLOSURE OF ALL PSYCHOTHERAPY SERVICES WITHIN THE NHS
IN LAMBETH HEALTHCARE TRUST

At a meeting of Lambeth, Southwark and Lewisham Health Authority on 5th November 1996, a proposal was made to cut all psychotherapy provision within Lambeth Healthcare Trust and Bethlem and Maudsley Trust. Psychotherapy provision in Lewisham & Guys Mental Health Trust will also be reduced.

In Lambeth Healthcare Trust this proposal would close Shanti Women's Intercultural Psychotherapy Service and the Psychotherapy Unit at St Thomas' Hospital.

This would mean that Lambeth residents would have no access to psychotherapy within the NHS. According to the Department of Environment Index of Local Conditions, the area that Lambeth, Southwark and Lewisham serves is the second most deprived in the Country, containing a wide range of risk factors that predispose mental illness. It is unacceptable that access to psychotherapy provision is to be denied in this way to Lambeth Residents and to this area of South London.

We would like to draw the following points to your attention:-

May we invite you to give this matter your serious consideration and urge you to support us in our conviction that such an action would remove a vital part of mental health provision for patients within Lambeth and consultation for other mental health professionals within the Trust. Most of all it would deeply affect the mental health of the people whom we treat, for whom there is no alternative option. We would greatly appreciate the use of the resources available to you in your professional capacity to actively intervene on our behalf.

For your information the Chief Executive of Lambeth, Lewisham & Southwark Health Authority is Mr Martin Roberts. He is contactable at:-

Lambeth, Southwark & Lewisham Heath Authority
1 Lower Marsh
London SE1

Tel: 0171-716-7000
Fax: 0171-716-7039

The Chief Executive of Lambeth Healthcare NHS Trust is Mr Erville Millar. He is contactable at:-

Reay House
108 Landor Road
London SW9 9NT

Tel: 0171-346-5400 Ext 5422
Fax: 0171-346-5423

Yours sincerely

Ian Simpson
Senior Adult Psychotherapist
Head of Psychotherapy Services

Hilary A. Beard
Adult Psychotherapist
Chair - Association of Cognitive Analytic Therapists (A.C.A.T.)


References

(1) NHS Psychotherapy Services in England-Review of Strategic Policy - NHS Executive Department of Health, (1996). See reference to the NHS Strategic Review of Psychotherapy Services published by the Department of Health NHS Executive (September 1996)

(2) Roth, A.D., & Fonagy, P. (1996) What Works for Whom? A Critical Review of Psychotherapy Research.
New York: Guildford Press.

(3) Paranoia or Adaptation? The Implications of a Kings Fund Review on a Psychotherapy Department
A Garelick & J Wiener - Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy (1996) Vol.10 No. 3.