This story was first published in digitalhealth.net
Mental health patients sent long distances for treatment
New figures obtained by BBC News and Community Care magazine have revealed that almost 5,500 mental health patients in England were forced to travel away from their home to receive treatment, due to a lack of beds.
The data, collated through a series of Freedom of Information requests (FoI), highlights a 13 per cent increase on last year’s figure. In being sent out of their area, a patient is receiving treatment from a unit which is not run by the trust responsible for proving their care.
Mental health experts have warned that routinely sending people away for treatment can increase the risk of suicide, and have called for the practice to be stopped.
The data shows that in 2014-15, 4,804 patients were treated out of their area; in 2015-16 that figure had risen to 54,111, a rise of 12.6 per cent (according to data from 42 of 56 trusts).
Data from 28 trusts going back to 2011 shows the continuing rise of the problem. In 2011-12 those trusts placed 1,215 patients out of area; in 2015-16 that had risen to 4,093, a rise of 236 per cent.
Commenting on the findings, Paul Farmer , Mind chief executive, said: "It is truly a sorry state of affairs that the numbers have risen, despite repeated commitments from government and the NHS to improve the care of people in crisis. It costs more to do things badly, and the human cost is far greater.
"People with mental health problems deserve better. A mental-health crisis is an emergency just like a physical health emergency, and no-one should be expected to put up with a second rate service for either."
Care Minister Alistair Burt said it was ‘unacceptable that too many patients suffering from mental illness are receiving care so far from home.’
"We have increased mental health funding to £11.7 billion, have accepted the recommendation of the Mental Health Taskforce that the inappropriate use of out of area treatments for adults in acute care must be eliminated by 2020-21, and will work to a faster timetable if at all possible.”
Latest News
16/02/2024 - 12:56
Hammersmith and Fulham Council has created a new alliance intended to clean dirty air and improve residents' health.
16/02/2024 - 10:44
Two million more GP appointments a month are being delivered for patients compared to the same month before the pandemic as part of the NHS primary care access recovery plan according to new NHS data.
15/02/2024 - 10:26
The Welsh Government has provided innovation funding of £380,000 to support two projects utilising technology in domiciliary care.
15/02/2024 - 10:13
The new Scottish health secretary has met with frontline staff at Queen Elizabeth University Hospital in Glasgow.
14/02/2024 - 10:27
The North East London NHS Foundation Trust (NELFT) has appointed three new Executive Directors to the Trust Board.
Product Features
UK Building Regulations highlight toxic gas and smoke from layers of paint built up over multiple redecorations as a major cause of permanent ill health or death in a building fire.
Their concern rose with discovery the flame retardant paints most widely used paint along escape routes have been ones which to this day counter-productively use emission of heavy toxic gas to smother flames which rapidly spread along walls if layers of paint delaminate in a fire.
Supplier Profiles
Northwich’s Victoria Infirmary (VIN) Community Diagnostic Centre (CDC) has enabled more patients
Adveco, the commercial hot water specialist, announces the launch of live metering of domestic ho
Latest Features
Sarah Greenslade, public affairs and communications officer at the British Parking Association looks at some of the problems and innovations in healthcare parking
It’s easy to assume that the comms team is there to handle press enquiries and the occasional social media storm – but the reality is that strategic communications can make a measurable impact across the entire organisation, from operational to financial, when done properly
