Scottish Conservative and Unionist MSP, Miles Briggs, has today challenged the First Minister over proposed cuts from the Edinburgh Integrated Joint Board.
Mr Briggs visited Penumbra’ Edinburgh Crisis Centre, just off Leith Walk, at the start of the week, to hear about concerns over the future of the 24/7, 365 day a year mental health service for people experiencing crisis or distress and those struggling with their mental health.
In his question, Mr Briggs highlighted the “growing concern that we will soon see the service significantly reduced or forced to close leaving some of the most vulnerable people in the Capital without vital help and support.”
The Edinburgh Crisis Centre is open 24 hours a day 365 days of the year and provides community-based, emotional and practical support at times of mental health crisis through a freephone helpline, support email or video call.
The current funding is for £540,000 and runs up until the end of March 2027. The Edinburgh Integrated Joint Board is currently deciding if they will continue this essential funding.
In response to Mr Briggs’ question, the First Minister said that he was “very sympathetic to the point” and agreed that Mr Briggs is “absolutely right to highlight the importance of services of this nature in the early intervention, to prevent an escalation of circumstances taking place”. Mr Swinney continued the “third sector will have an ever more significant role in the delivery of public services”.
Edinburgh and Lothians East MSP, Miles Briggs, said:
“During my visit to the Edinburgh Crisis Centre I saw first-hand the vital work that they carry out to support people who are experiencing a mental health crisis.
“Mental Health support for people is an issue that I bring up at Holyrood on a regular basis and the prospect of this service having to reduce their hours, or even close, is simply unacceptable.
"I have today written to the Edinburgh Integrated Joint Board to seek urgent answers on the proposed cuts to this vital service and to seek clarification on what 24/7, 365 day a week service will be provided.
"There is rightly significant concerns amongst people being cared for in the community and local mental health services providers at the potential significant impact these cuts will have and that we need to see a clear plan on how people will be supported in the community beyond being sent to Accident and Emergency.
“I will continue to work cross party with MSPs at the Scottish Parliament and Councillors in Edinburgh Council, to ensure that funding for Edinburgh Crisis Centre is continued.”