Health Funding Cut is 'Threat to the Vulnerable'.
Westminster faces a £25.3 million cut from its social care funding if radical government reforms go ahead.
Local authorities across London are also bracing themselves against the threat of losing a total £420 million from their budget under the reforms.
The moves would slash funding for the physically and mentally disabled, drug and alcohol rehabilitation, and mental health services.
The warning from London Councils, the group which represents all of London's 33 councils, comes at a time when social care funding in the capital is already overstretched. More then 80 per cent of London councils have been forced to restrict their services to those with substantial or critical needs.
Westminster is currently able to provide care to people with moderate levels of need but if reforms go ahead the future is uncertain.
Abbey Road Community Centre for mental health faces an uncertain future.
Health boss Cllr Edward Argar said: "If this new formula is introduced, we risk facing a severe shortage in our funding for social care. This would impact upon some of the most vulnerable people in our society.
"It does not take full account of people with complex needs, such as those with mental health or drug problems, many of whom are often attracted to the anonymity and bright lights of places like Westminster.
"At a time when the pressure upon adult social care is increasing for a variety of reasons, it is vital that services such as these get the resources they need to support people.
"We are determined to continue to provide the excellent services we do now. This really makes an impact on people's lives.
"To do that it is vital that the government ensures that we get the long term funding that is needed, rather than tinkering with spending."
An announcement on the proposals is expected in the coming months, when ministers will make final decisions over how funding is distributed until 2011.
Ministers are threatening to remove protection that prevents cuts to social services grants in several regions.
But critics have been quick to point out that the new formula unfairly discriminates against urban areas.
During a survey of 70 psychiatrists by the mental health charity SANE, two thirds said that "more funding, more staff and beds, and better facilities for patients are all crucial for the improvement of mental health care".
Report:
This article began life as a press release, sourced from the Westminster Council website. It was an interesting story to report on, in that it concerns a very serious social issue.
I had a little trouble contacting sources for quotes, with two separate mental health charities failing to return my calls. The quotes in the story were taken directly from the press release.
Staff members at the Abbey Road Community Centre were also reluctant to comment on the story, despite my best efforts to persuade them that the angle I was adopting was fully in support of their positions as employees.
In the absence of any fresh quotes, I was able to mention the survey conducted by SANE, one of the charities I had tried to contact, in order to add a little colour to the story.
Because the article was for the local press, I selected a local angle, concentrating on the financial loss faced by services inside Westminster. I also believed the story was worthy of a page lead, and so wrote it to the appropriate length.
There was an ethical question with regards to the relevance of the survey quoted in the final paragraph. Though the findings were extremely relevant, and were quoted exactly, the survey itself was conducted six years ago.
I chose to get around this simply by not mentioning the date on which the findings were released.
The image was taken by myself, and features one of the buildings that would be directly affected by the planned cuts.
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