Number of mental health patients grows in Brighton and Hove

The number of patients with mental health problems and needing residential or supported accommodation in Brighton and Hove is growing.

Staff and carers are also having to cope with patients with more complex conditions, putting budgets under pressure.

Details were shared at a joint meeting of councillors and health chiefs at Hove Town Hall yesterday (Monday 23 September).

Anne Silley, a senior finance manager at Brighton and Hove City Council, said that the £27 million budget for mental health and dementia services was on course for a £334,000 overspend.

She told the council’s Adult Care and Health Committee that more than 860 people were being helped with their dementia or mental health problems.

This was almost 60 more than expected, she said in a report to the committee, which includes members of the Brighton and Hove Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG).

The costs – and any overspend – were shared by the council and the Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust.

The council’s head of assessment Brian Doughty said: “What we’re seeing in adult mental health is an increased complexity.

“We’re trying to reduce the number of people in residential care.”

The executive director of adult services Denise D’Souza said: “Domiciliary and community care are cheaper.”

The committee noted the financial position and will receive further updates to monitor efforts to bring the finances back into balance.