More funding 'unlikely' for mental health trust

Health bosses at an NHS trust say they are unlikely to get "significant increases" in funding to tackle growing waiting lists.

The Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust's (CPFT) board of directors heard this week that there were "significant waiting lists" of ADHD and autism referrals.

As of 8 April, there were 9,757 patients on the ADHD and autism waiting list, with a mean average wait of 92 weeks, the trust's board of directors heard.

Dr Mike Knapton, non-executive director and quality and safety committee chair, said the trust took waiting lists "very seriously" and said there are "a number of pieces of work" looking at addressing the situation.

The CPFT delivers many NHS services that are provided in the community, including physical and mental health, and specialist services.

The trust also runs the Cavell Centre in Peterborough, and Fulbourn Hospital in Cambridge.

In December, the NHS trust was rated as "requires improvement" for its mental health services for adults of working age. It said at the time that it took the findings of the Care Quality Commission (CQC) "very seriously".

The trust's overall rating with the CQC was "good".

The report said the ADHD service "continues to be extremely pressured" and that there was "inadequate resource for the demand".

Holly Sutherland, chief operating officer, said given the context of NHS finances the trust is "unlikely to get significant increases in funding" to address the increasing demand for services.

She said the trust was looking at how it could "transform delivery" to be efficient and get to those who were most in need.

Eileen Milner, chair at the trust, said there had been "exceptional growth" in referrals for autism and ADHD.

She added that it was a national issue and told the board that she had recently met with chairs at other NHS Trusts, who had shared that they are experiencing the same increases in demand for services.

Ms Milner said they heard from a NHS England representative at this meeting, but said she did not believe a national strategy to address the issue was well developed at this stage.

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