A STEPFATHER has accused mental health services in East Lancashire of failing and letting down his stepdaughter.

Steve Allen's 20-year-old stepdaughter Hannah Larter has struggled with mental health problems, including depression and anxiety since she was just 13.

She has had a support worker to help her for the past year from Pendle House mental health service in Nelson.

But Mr Allen has claimed his stepdaughter was left on the verge of committing suicide after the family were informed she had lost her support worker in October.

Since then, Mr Allen said the only support his stepdaughter has had is anti-depressants from her GP at Colne Health Centre.

Mr Allen, 64, from Colne, slammed the poor state of mental health services and said his stepdaughter had been ignored.

He said: "I was told on October 6 that she had lost her support worker as Pendle House changed their system and the worker is now working for Lancashire County Council.

"I pleaded with Pendle House for some alternative help but she's just been dropped like a brick.

"It left her feeling on the verge of committing suicide.

"She's just been ignored.

"On October 8, she saw her GP in Colne and was put on anti-depressants.

"The GP sent a referral letter to Pendle House for her to be re-seen."

But he said that despite contacting Lancashire Care's head office in Preston several times to complain, he had no luck finding out what was going on with his stepdaughter's care.

He said: "They told me they'd not received the referral letter from the GP.

"Eventually, I was advised that my stepdaughter would have to refer herself to Mindsmatter for mental health support where she could access online therapy courses such as Silver Cloud.

"I just feel that mental health services have failed and let down my daughter as she has been waiting for weeks for some support.

"Mental health services are a poor third to physical health."

A spokesman for Lancashire Care, the county's main mental health organisation, said they were sorry to hear of Mr Allen's concerns about his stepdaughter's care and treatment.

The spokesman added: "Whilst we cannot comment on the individual circumstances we would like to offer our assurance that providing high quality care and treatment is our priority.

"We understand that Mr Allen is in touch with our Hearing Feedback team, this will enable the issues that he has raised to be fully explored and we hope to work with the family to get the best possible solution and outcome for their daughter.”