HEALTH services for victims of anxiety and depression are being “put up for sale”, campaigners claim.

Protesters took to Victoria Square in Bolton town centre to launch a petition against the re-tender of the contract for Bolton’s psychological therapies service.

The tender process could see a private company win the contract.

Karen Reissmann, secretary for Save Bolton Health Services, claims the new contract will see the service budget halved.

Ms Reissmann said: “We do not understand why this contract is being put up for sale like this.

“Psychological therapy in Bolton is a top quality service, with little waiting list.

“How can this service be maintained or improved by slashing its budget and handing it over to a private company which will look to make profit from the mental health of the people of Bolton?”

Staff from the psychological therapies service joined the demonstration yesterday.

Clinical psychologist Dr John Owen said: “The service we work on is effective and it does what it should.

“We are meeting all our targets and we are committed to doing this.

“It’s not like we are an under-performing service.

“It seems like insanity to put us under threat.”

Bolton Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) said no decision about the provider had been made.

Dr Wirin Bhatiani, chairman of NHS Bolton, said: “We have invested almost £2 million in mental health services over the past 18 months.

"This includes a rapid response service to support those who arrive at our hospital in crisis and a memory assessment clinic to help diagnose and support people with dementia.

“We have already spent £400,000 this year on improving access to psychological therapies, like counselling, for those suffering from anxiety, depression or stress.

“The CCG is now working to improve these services further following a listening exercise with the public and GPs. We want to increase capacity and make these services more responsive to patients.”

“This is an important process and it will take time to progress. No decisions on cost or providers have been made at this stage.”