Cole-Hamilton expresses shock at SNP’s £30m mental health cut

Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Alex Cole-Hamilton MSP today said he was “shocked” after it emerged that the Scottish Government has handed down an immediate £30m cut to mental health services, piling pressure on Humza Yousaf and Michael Matheson to explain the decision to everyone waiting desperately for help.

Finance Secretary Shona Robison delivered the news in an annex to a letter to the Finance Committee about in-year budget changes earlier this week. The documents show £29.9m of cuts to mental health as a result of “reprofiling” and “postponement” of spend on the Mental Health Recovery and Renewal Fund and the Mental Health Transformation Fund.

The document shows cuts will affect mental health and primary care, CAMHS and mental health support for prisoners, alongside an initiative to reduce delayed discharges.

Last week, Scottish Liberal Democrats revealed that just 14% of GPs believed their practice had sufficient access to mental health practitioners.

Mr Cole-Hamilton said:

“My party has spent years pressing the government about the importance of putting mental health practitioners into surgeries in every corner of Scotland, cutting waiting lists and improving access to mental health support.

“After Humza Yousaf broke his personal commitment to clear mental health waiting lists in the spring, he and Michael Matheson will now have to explain to everyone why they have snuck out a £30m cut to under pressure mental health services.

“I cannot understand how SNP ministers can hear the stories of children and adults in mental torment and respond with more cuts.

“Scotland needs world-class mental health services. Scottish Liberal Democrats will deliver them. That’s why we’ve just set out plans to increase the tax paid by the social media giants – a move that could help fund more mental health support in schools and get more professionals close to where you live.”