New policy exposes how the government exploits mental health patients by incentivising referrals to its toxic PREVENT programme

London – New counter-terrorism rules that will give doctors incentives to refer individuals with mental health issues to PREVENT shows that the government is exploiting the doctor-patient care responsibility in an attempt to increase subscription to its toxic PREVENT programme. The rules stipulate that urgent psychiatric care will now be provided by mental health trusts to those people with psychological problems who are referred to PREVENT. This will influence doctors to refer patients to PREVENT in order to speed up treatment times. Dr Adnan Siddiqui, CAGE Director and GP said: “This latest move highlights the government's determination to further the toxic PREVENT agenda under the guise of safeguarding even if it is as the expense of the wellbeing of societies most vulnerable people.” “The government is effectively channelling psychiatric cases into a securitised policy that has been proven to damage individuals and families. The effect on doctor-patient trust and patient health will be devastating.” “Safeguarding and public sector ethics rely on trust, and making public sector workers the handmaidens of the state, not only erodes that trust but has made no tangible improvement to national security.” CC image courtesy of Alex Proimos on Flickr