David Ruffley MP has this week exposed a shocking fall in the number of NHS Mental Health beds in Suffolk in recent years.

Following private and anonymous briefings from local Suffolk professionals involved in the mental health sector, David Ruffley MP raised the issue with the Secretary of State for Health in a written Commons question.

The reply from the Minister to Mr Ruffley's questioning, published in the House of Commons Hansard, shows the level of crisis that now exists in the local Mental Health sector.

David Ruffley said:

'These shocking figures, given to me by the Government Health Minister, clearly demonstrate that the growing Suffolk health crisis and massive PCT deficits have now spread to the Mental Health sector. There has been a continuous decline in the number of beds from 324 in 2000-01 to just 284 for the year 2003-04.

'THE EXTRA MONEY THAT THE GOVERNMENT HAVE PUMPED INTO THE NHS IS SIMPLY NOT GETTING TO THE FRONTLINE. WHAT WE ARE SEEING IS A REDUCTION IN SERVICES AT A TIME OF GROWING NEED IN MY CONSTITUENCY.'