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Two community based mental health projects in Gateshead are set to be scrapoped in late January 2026(Image: Shared Content Unit)<\/p>\nA decision to remove two mental health projects from Gateshead has sparked anger and confusion.Two community based mental health projects in Gateshead are set to be scrapoped in late January 2026(Image: Shared Content Unit)<\/p>\n
Outrage has been sparked over the decision to scrap two NHS<\/a> community mental health programmes in Gateshead<\/a>. Regional health institutions have faced harsh criticism over the decision to end services some believe are saving lives.<\/p>\n Councillors, mental health workers, and community figures have rallied against the wrapping-up of the community-based mental health projects \u2013 one for adults aged 18 and above and the other for children. However, a decision was made back in July by the regional Integrated Care Board to discontinue the services, on the basis of \u201ca lack of data demonstrating improved outcomes\u201d.<\/p>\n Councillors and even staff employed in the service criticised the report, stating the data within did not fully reflect the work achieved. It was also said that a number of Gateshead organisations receiving help from the services were not included within the report.<\/p>\n In an emotional meeting of Gateshead Council\u2019s families overview scrutiny committee, councillor Sharon Potts said: \u201cThere is a lot of people in the Gateshead borough who are actually here today, and they might not be here if this service isn\u2019t here.\u201d<\/p>\n Coun Potts went on to say the services had helped over 50 women in her own ward. The services are set to be scrapped by January 31 next year.<\/p>\n Reverend Tom Worsley: \u201cI have come along this afternoon in support of this team. I heard it mentioned before that we weren\u2019t class as one of the three groups at risk but we weren\u2019t included in the report.<\/p>\n \u201cHow many other groups have been omitted, I have seen first hand what this team does. It has taken them two years to build relationships. And now they are going to be asked to travel to Newcastle. I\u2019ve seen them try and get people to go to other groups and they won\u2019t.<\/p>\n \u201cThey have built trust and friendship. As councillor Burnett said before, if something is working why start something else? If there is money available why can\u2019t we continue with this team?\u201d<\/p>\n A worker from the scheme, Mel Ridsdale, added: \u201cI know there have been a number of other services identified but the nature of what this service does is so niche. As a peer support worker I support people through the lens of my own experience, people who have severe mistrust of other services and are not able to access services off their own backs.\u201d<\/p>\n The integrated care board said it was \u201cnot an easy decision\u201d to decommission the services and recognised the \u201cdisruption\u201d that would be caused.<\/p>\n A spokesperson for South Tyneside<\/a> and Sunderland<\/a> NHS Foundation Trust said: \u201cWe were disappointed to learn that our Adult Mental Health Peer Support Service and our Children & Young People\u2019s Community Mental Health Service in Gateshead were being decommissioned. This was not a decision taken by the trust and we\u2019ve had limited input to provide the relevant data and information to support a thorough service review.<\/p>\n \u201cOur priority now is to ensure the ongoing care and well-being of people already in our care and those still awaiting treatment. Of course, we will also be working to support our staff through the difficult next steps.\u201d<\/p>\n A North East and North Cumbria Integrated Care Board (ICB) spokesperson said: \u201cIt\u2019s never easy to make a decision like this and we recognise the strength of feeling from patients who have received care from this service. We also very much understand that it is difficult for the staff and will cause some disruption in the short term.<\/p>\n \u201cWe have a responsibility to ensure we get the best possible value for the NHS\u2019s money and following an evaluation of this pilot we have made the decision to decommission the service at the end of January 2026.<\/p>\n \u201cThis decision was based on the overall impact of the service and does not reflect on the dedicated work of staff members. We would like to reassure people that there is a range of mental health support in Gateshead, including NHS services and voluntary and community organisations.<\/p>\n \u201cWe continue to invest in strengthening mental health services in Gateshead, and have recently supported the opening of a new Gateshead mental health safe haven, to which GPs and medical professionals can refer patients when they need support.\u201d<\/p>\n Join our Breaking News and Top Stories WhatsApp community<\/a> for all the latest news direct to your phone.<\/p>\n To join you need to have WhatsApp on your device. 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