LONG waiting times, services being too 'Oxford-centric', and chronic underfunding have been highlighted in a new report looking at mental health support in the county.

Produced by Oxfordshire’s independent health watchdog, it is based on the views and experiences of more than 2,000 people who accessed mental health services in the county over the past 18 months.

The Healthwatch Oxfordshire report, produced before coronavirus,includes praise for mental health professionals by patients and their families, with 41 per cent rating the overall service as excellent.

It highlights how many service users felt outstanding care was being delivered by ‘supportive, non-judgmental professionals’ despite 'constrained resources'.

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But many people also raised concerns over long waiting times, unequal availability across the county, as well as difficulty getting help for specialised and complex needs.

One anonymous user of Oxford Health's community mental health team, commented: "If the state of any individual's mental health has reached the point where they have 'qualified' for professional support, this is needed quickly – and not to be told they will have to be added to a minimum six-month waiting list for therapy.”

There was also found to be limited support when patients were discharged from services, with IT equipment and systems also mentioned as sometimes hindering the work being done.

Healthwatch Oxfordshire’s report stressed the need for increased investment to tackle many of thee problems mentioned."

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It cited a funding shortfall, estimated to be between £18m and £28m for the county compared to other similar areas, for local mental health services.

The report also recommended reviewing and increasing the capacity of Oxford Health's complex needs service, strengthening methods of communication between mental health providers and reaching out to the county’s seldom-heard communities such as the black, Asian, and minority ethnic community.

Rosalind Pearce, executive director of Healthwatch Oxfordshire, said: “The issues and compliments outlined in the report, while not new to the system and services, reinforce the fact that they are widespread and persistent.

"We believe that it also adds weight to the need for increased funding that would help to address many of the negative experiences we were told about.”

Responding to the report, Dr Nick Broughton, chief executive of Oxford Health, which runs many mental health services in the county, said the trust 'wholeheartedly support the principles of the recommendations' and said the trust was aware and working to bridge the gap of historical underfunding, with progress made in recent months.

He added: "We are continuing to strive for parity of esteem with mental health services."