NICK CLEGG VISITS ST ALBANS TO MAKE KEYNOTE SPEECH ON MENTAL HEALTH - and gets briefed by local campaigners on rail issues

1.00.00am GMT Mon 11th Feb 2008

LibDem leader heard first hand about all the recent problems with First Capital Connect services

New LibDem leader Nick Clegg visited St Albans on Friday 8th February to put forward far-reaching ideas on improving mental health services in the UK. Giving a widely reported keynote speech at the Guardian Public Services Summit at Sopwell House Hotel, he pointed out that "one in four Britons suffers from a mental illness at some point in their lives. One in six is suffering at any given time. Mental health issues directly affect most of Britain's families today."

He attacked the over-use of drugs in treatment because of the lack of availability of personal therapy. The number of children being prescribed anti-depressant drugs has quadrupled in just one decade, he said. "Britain has become the real 'Prozac Nation'. Pills must not be a crutch for the wider issues in our society which cause mental health problems."

The LibDem leader then outlined LibDem plans for a Patients' Contract with a maximum waiting time of 13 weeks applied to mental health treatments. Across the whole NHS, service providers must shape health care around the needs of local people. "LibDems will devolve power from Ministers to local NHS commissioners and make Primary Care Trusts democratically elected. There would be a fundamental shift in accountability to local people."

Nick Clegg then travelled to St Albans City Station to meet Sandy Walkington and Nigel Quinton, LibDem parliamentary candidates for St Albans and for Hitchin and Harpenden. Together they met local rail users and the LibDem leader heard first hand about all the recent problems with First Capital Connect services.

"The misinformation about ticket prices and actual overcharging of some passengers which was discovered by Sandy Walkington after the New Year fare rises indicates a real malaise," he said. "The importance of commuting to St Albans residents means that you deserve the highest standards from your monopoly rail provider. Sadly this seems to have been absent."

Sandy Walkington expressed his delight at the interest and time Nick Clegg took to speak to local people. "The group of rail travellers who were able to gather and meet Nick at the station were really struck by his interest and concern in the importance of good, efficient public transport. I was really pleased that he asked to be kept informed on the quality and performance of our local rail company and their impact on long-suffering rail travellers," Sandy Walkington concluded.

ENDS

For more information, please call Sandy Walkington on 07802 177317

Photographs of Nick Clegg meeting local rail travellers are available

The full text of Nick Clegg's speech at the Sopwell House Hotel can be accessed online at http://www.libdems.org.uk/parliament/nick-clegg-no-one-should-wait-longer-than-13-weeks-for-mental-health-treatment.13798.html