A ‘CRUCIAL’ advocacy service for people with mental health issues has been axed in Blackburn with Darwen, prompting outrage from a dad-of-two who relies on it.

Non-statutory users of Advocacy Focus, a charity which provides independent people to represent health and care service users in important meetings, have been told they are only entitled to eight more sessions, before resources are placed elsewhere.

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Those entitled to the statutory service, such as those detained under the Mental Health Act, will not be affected by the change.

Blackburn with Darwen Council, which provides about £58,000 to the service each year, said the funding has not been cut, but it now has to provide advocacy to anyone going through an adult social care assessment.

Lancashire County Council said it has maintained the non-statutory service, however.

Craig Smith, 45, from Blackburn, who suffers from bi-polar disorder, said he has relied on the service for his regular check-ups with psychiatrists and care co-ordinators.

The Naarian Court resident said: “It’s so important and I won’t be able to cope without them. They can speak for you at meetings and ensure that you’ve understood things correctly, such as any medication changes.

“Eight sessions will be used up in no time and I think this is a massive mistake. It will affect lots of people, including people suffering with schizophrenia and mania.”

A spokesman for the council said: “The Care Act places requirements on councils to make provision for any adult or carer who is going through the adult social care assessment and support planning process to have a professional advocate where one is needed.

“Advocacy Focus is one of the providers we have commissioned to fulfil our Care Act responsibilities and we have asked them to focus on this as their core-business. Those who are already receiving generic advocacy from Advocacy Focus will get up to eight further sessions to conclude things.”

Bushra Yaqoob, operations director at the Advocacy Focus, said: “Blackburn with Darwen has taken the decision that the non-statutory mental health advocacy won’t be funded any longer.

“But we’ve agreed to provide eight more sessions for people, which I think is actually quite a lot. It’s not supposed to be long term.”

Any ‘unmet need’ will also be monitored, she added.