News

Jamie Miller Headway CEO reacts to the Breaking news that Oxfordshire County Council has made significant changes to the proposed cuts.

The Oxford Mail is reporting that:

The proposal will now look into a full review of all day services for older people and an additional contribution from the Budget Reserve.

Service savings which have been removed include:

– Voluntary sector provided day services – £750,000

– Day services – health and wellbeing centres – £2,050,000

– Transport to day centres – £200,000

– Early intervention hubs and day centres – £2,000,000

Here are Jamie’s initial thoughts:

“Speaking as an organisation that doesn’t really sit in any one funding camp (and in fact as a condition Acquired Brain Injury is very much under served and under recognised by commissioners both nationally and locally) I am happy that some consideration has been given by councillors to the need to slow down the cuts and allow individuals and the voluntary sector some breathing space. However, in reality the cuts still remain and I would have far rather have seen an all out “NO” vote that sends a clear message to the Government, that these cuts remain immoral, undemocratic and unachievable.

I would like to offer my personal thanks to all those that stood before the council and relayed the truth so eloquently. This fight is by no means over and we will need to muster the full understanding and support of Oxfordshire’s voting public if we are to really achieve the moral victory that is so imperative for our communities and the most vulnerable within them.”

David Cameron today responded to a damning report into the state of mental health that found inadequate, underfunded care, leading to “thousands of tragic and unnecessary deaths”.

The Prime Minister was quoted as saying “The Nation must focus on Mental Health”

Read the full BBC report on the report and Cameron’s response here

Oxford Head Injury Services CEO Jamie Miller has these words for Mr Cameron

“Having single handedly enforced the biggest cuts ever to social care services in Oxfordshire, David Cameron now imparts his wisdom to those of us working in the health and social care sector “We have focused a lot on physical health and we haven’t as a country focused enough on mental health.”

Although I applaud any well thought through and genuine attempt to improve the lives of those in need, I find it incredibly cynical of Mr Cameron to try and garner the votes of the public by being seen to be empathic to the needs of those that his policies are actually persecuting for having the temerity to be ill, elderly or poor.

If it is just a case of “where do I go to get my particular interests heard”…please take note Mr Cameron of those who have long term complex physical, cognitive, behavioural and mental health issues and yet remain virtually unrecognised…those with neurological conditions. Instead of cutting the funding for charities that provide the most cost effective solutions to the increasing demand, why not invest prudently in a well-resourced health and social care system that actually works for the benefit of those that need it, whatever their condition.”