MENTAL health charities united yesterday to raise the alarm on a scandalous lack of care for vulnerable patients who are the hidden victims of NHS England’s cuts firestorm.

Members of the mental health policy group joined forces to launch a manifesto designed to put pressure on political parties gearing up for next year’s general election.

Among the manifesto’s demands are a maximum waiting time for treatment, a focus on smoking among people with mental health issues, more support for new mothers, outreach work for people out of work and real-terms increases in funding.