Toby Perkins, MP for Chesterfield, and Natascha Engel, MP for North East Derbyshire, visited a Rethink Mental Illness community service that supports people in Chesterfield and North East Derbyshire with severe mental illness.

The MPs were invited to the service following the Chesterfield Mental Health Summit held by Rethink in March this year.  After a tour of the service, Ms Engel and Mr Perkins heard about some of the current issues affecting mental health service users and their carers.  Points raised included:  being treated differently by local hospitals, job centres and the police; concern about an ineffective benefits system that is set up for physical health problems rather than for mental health; and worries that some GPs, who will be involved in commissioning services, do not understand mental health issues.

Michael Crossley, from Dunston, who volunteers at the Rethink Mental Illness Community Service in Chesterfield, said:  “I hope that by meeting my MP today, positive changes will be made for people affected by mental ill health.

“I’d like to see a dedicated Mental Health Minister to make a difference to people living with mental illness.  I came along today because I’d like to see changes in the future, and to talk to the people who have the power to make a difference.”

Toby Perkins, Labour MP for Chesterfield and Shadow Minister, said: “Having the opportunity to come and meet people using this service and hear their concerns has been extremely valuable.

“At a time where the coalition Government is making such significant changes to the way we all receive healthcare, it’s vital they listen to the needs of the most vulnerable parts of our community. It’s not right that people with mental illnesses and their carers are under additional pressure as a result of national reforms. I intend to raise the issues from today in Parliament with the view of getting better outcomes for mental health service users in Chesterfield.”

Natascha Engel, Labour MP for North East Derbyshire, said: “Whilst we are lucky to have some fantastic support groups and care available on the doorstep for many of my constituents, I’ve also heard some very worrying concerns that need to be addressed today.

“It’s vital that the issues we’ve heard, about protecting the rights of people with mental illnesses and their carers, are discussed in Parliament, and actions taken. Local people need the support of good mental health services and the repercussions of their needs not being met not only affects them and their carers, but also other public services and the wider healthcare system.”

Both MPs agreed to visit Derbyshire Health Care NHS Foundation Trust Community Mental Health Team at St Mary’s Gate to learn more about provision locally and what improvements are needed.

Toby Perkins MP agreed to write to The Hub at the Hartington Unit Chesterfield Royal Hospital  Derbyshire Healthcare Foundation Trust to ask them to open  The Hub to outpatients.

Both MPs agreed to host constituency surgeries in the Rethink service on Holywell Street for all constituents affected by mental illness.

Both agreed to help Rethink Mental Illness host a roundtable event with existing and new commissioners of mental health services to ensure the problems people have in accessing services are rectified.