A CHARITY is calling for the mental health services in Swindon to be put out to tender following what it described as a ‘damning’ report by the Care Quality Commission.

In light of the health watchdog’s warning to Avon and Wiltshire Mental Health Partnership to make significant improvements following a thorough inspection of its wards and community services, the SUNS group has backed the report.

SUNS chairman, Ann Mooney, who herself suffers from mental health issues, urged drastic action and an end to what she sees as inconsistent and inadequate patient care.

“We can’t sit back and let this drop; we have got to do something,” said Ann, who also runs the charity’s helpline, the Listening Line.

“People’s lives are in their hands. Enough is enough. AWP should be put out to tender.

“We need a new provider. Mental health patients should have a choice. They should be able to choose where they get their care. And that will wean out the bad areas.

“We all knew the report was going to be damning. We had already done a survey and we sent it to the CQC. The survey just pushed it over the top.”

However, in the wake of the report, the AWP vowed to improve the situation and make the necessary changes to services highlighted in the report.

But Ann said SUNS regularly received criticism of the services from patients.

“We have people calling the Listening Line and telling us all this. They tell people they are busy and they probably are busy but it shouldn’t have an impact on patients,” she said.

While Ann still holds out hope of a better future and prospects for mental health patients in Swindon she said scepticism and pessimism had set in among many service users.

“I’ve been fighting for things to improve but it has been over 15 years and nothing has changed whatsoever,” she added. “They say they are going to listen to patients but they don’t. We have heard this so many times. We have lived this for so many years.

“We have had enough of mental health patients being treated so badly.

“It would be music to my ears if patients said they were receiving better care but we won’t hold our breath.”

Speaking about the CQC’s findings yesterday AWP chief executive Iain Tulley pledged to make improvements and provide the best possible service to Swindon residents.

“The trust is committed to improve quality and work with commissioners to get the best with the resources afforded us,” he said. “I want to assure the public that we recognise where we have got deficiencies and where it has impacted people.

“As the report points out, we have inadequacies and we accept and we will address them.

“I welcome the fact we can do it with our commissioners and we will crack this together in both Wiltshire and Swindon.”