A NEW mental health alliance has been established in Bury to spearhead the interests of users.

And the two men behind the move hope the alliance will give mental health users a greater say in decision making.

One of the men fronting the new Bury and District Mental Health Service User Groups Alliance is long-time campaigner, Mr Don Mills.

For the past four years, he has waged a one-man crusade to force health and social services bosses to liaise with the users of the mental health services.

Under the banner of the Mental Health Service Users Combined User Voice, he had led a fight to give sufferers a voice in the town.

Now, thanks to the support of various other groups, Mr Mills hopes this will give the alliance greater strength to meet his aims and objectives.

Other groups involved in the Alliance include Panic Stations Self Help Group, The "Former Patients" Council in Bury and "Heads Together" Self Help Group.

Mr Mills said: "We didn't get anywhere before when all the groups were fragmented.

"Now, because we are united, we hope we can go forward together and make significant progress."

Also represented are those from various social services and NHS member groups.

Mel Bradburn, co-ordinator of the new Alliance, said: "Various mental health service user groups have found it necessary to join together in a firm and formal Alliance."

He says the aim is to negotiate from "a position of strength" for the installation of rights which, he claims, have been denied by the service providers.

Both Mr Bradburn and Mr Mills, Alliance chairman, claim that decision making provisions for mental health users, embraced within the official Community Care Plan, have not been met in full.

The new Alliance will be in contact with Bury and Rochdale Health Authority, Bury NHS Health Care Trust, Bury Council Social Services and new primary care groups and others to outline their objectives.

Health and social services management will be urged to make clear whether they will help achieve the Alliance's aims and to ensure the interests of the users are fully embraced within the Community Care Plan.

The letter stresses: "We need straight answers to straight questions. We need to know your clear position and respectfully request a clear reply in plain English."

Mr Bradburn will also tell them: "You now have a large, truly representative overall body of people to consult with.

"We want to see a new phase of co-operation in the construction of a brand new system of user involvement in decison making. We want co-operation all round."

Both he and Mr Mills claim that in the past, health and social services bosses have failed to fulfil their obligations to give users a far greater say in the running of mental health services in the town..

Any mental health user or group wishing details of the Alliance can contact Mr Bradburn on 280 2498 or page him on 04325 597 473.

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