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Waste of resources hits at most vulnerable
• I READ with utter disgust Paul Keilthy’s report (Mentally ill ‘cluster’ blamed on rich-poor split, May 29).
I find it beyond comprehension that two leading Camden Conservative councillors have asked Rebecca Harrington to do a report on the number of mentally ill people who are living in Gospel Oak ward and are now slagging Camden’s housing department for bunching mentally ill people in one ward.
It is my belief that it is not only a Camden problem, it is a countrywide headache. Mental illness has no discrimination.
It can happen to anyone, whether you are rich or poor, employed or unemployed.
I blame the most recent funding cuts that were instigated by Camden and Islington Mental Health Trust and Adult Social Care mental health review of their services and this new administration for using consultants at a cost of £750,000 to tell them where to cut across the board.
I believe Keith Sedgwick, ward councillor, and Martin Davies, councillor for adult social care, did not object to this colossal waste of monies which would have funded day centres, seven drop-ins and help the 43 people who are finding it difficult to keep their tenancies going.
Furthermore I believe this present administration persists on hitting the most vulnerable of our society by the scandalous waste of money, employing agency staff (£30 million – with £6 million paid in agency fees).
Alfred Macleod
Oakley Square, NW1
Real villains
• IT is hard to dispute Shenal James’s contention that Camden Mental Health Consortium is no longer the campaigning organisation that it used to be (Mental health services need more than a sticking plaster approach, May 22).
However, the worst it can be accused of is “collaboration”.
The real villains are the board of the Camden and Islington Mental Health and Social Care Trust which closed the beds and reduced services to their current minimum in its frantic bid to become a foundation trust.
Then when it achieved that goal it took the new name Camden and Islington NHS Foundation Trust shedding from its title the mental health and social care which it has so much reduced and now seems ashamed to be associated with.
David J Brown, NW3
It rings true
• PAUL Keilthy’s article about mental health problems in the Gospel Oak area rings true (Mentally ill ‘cluster’ blamed on rich-poor split, May 29).
We at Wells House have suffered one family’s misdemeanours for three years, their property used for drug production and supply and the continual breaking of most tenancy conditions.
The effects it had on the community were repeatedly ignored by Camden Council and the relevant agencies.
Support for residents affected by the anti-social behaviour was lacking. How many more are directly affected because they will not report perpetrators because of recriminations?
The points system for acquiring a council property favours many of the mentally ill people with Asbos above more deserving families. While it is admirable to integrate the mentally ill with the community, those with a known history should not be foisted on residents to destroy their lives.
D McGinness
Wells House, Well Walk, NW3
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