as i said above, having a surplus right now in mental health means you're likely to have it lifted to pay for the acute (medical) trusts shortfalls. so, perhaps flying close to the wind in terms of budget and keeping assets to one side is not a bad thing after all. i also reiterate that the emergency clinic is not being shut because it's a great, if expensive, service. it's just not viable to keep it open for the small numbers who use it. true, the funding crisis is being used as a bit of a smoke screen to reorganise inefficient parts of the service. but, like closing the 'bins' years ago, it needs doing. edit: oh, and how much would you do stuart bell's job for? 8000 staff to deal with and outside pressures. i wouldn't do it for that money.