Shocking data released shows over 50,000 Dagenham and Rainham residents on mental health waiting list and 10,000 referrals closed without any treatment.

Jon Cruddas MP, for Dagenham and Rainham has released data showing the huge numbers of local people stuck on mental health waiting lists, as calls grow for the Government to address their failed handling of mental health services across the country.

Since 2010, the Conservative Government have cut one-in-four mental health beds across the country, as waiting times for treatment have soared. Across the North East London Integrated Care Board area which includes the constituency of Dagenham and Rainham, there were 13,385 children on waiting lists in December and 52660 adults.

These figures are not only shocking, but deeply disturbing as adults and children wait long periods to access vital mental health support. However, even more concerning is the fact that across North East London in December, 10,765 referrals were closed before the patient received any treatment, a staggering number.

We have all read how police officers have been responding to mental health call outs despite not being mental health professionals, as the community has literally no one to turn to. These figures show just how many Dagenham and Rainham residents are being failed and why the police are ultimately called upon.

Many mental health services are at breaking point after 13 years of Conservative Government – staff are overstretched, and NHS services have been neglected for over a decade. The result is that hundreds of thousands of people are turned away from services without having any treatment.

Mr Cruddas told the Havering Daily: “These figures demonstrate just how much our community, and our children, are suffering after 13 years of Conservative government. Children should not be languishing in A&E because they can’t receive treatment in the community.

“Our children deserve better – it’s why the next Labour Government will enshrine a preventative approach to mental health, opening mental health hubs for children and young people locally and making sure that all of our local schools have access to a mental health professional.”

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