Lack of beds leaving mental health patients without treatment

A survey from the Royal College of Psychiatrists has found that mental health hospitals in England are operating at capacity.

According to the college, 85 per cent of the 320 psychiatrists who took part in the survey in December said there was more pressure on beds compared to the same time last year. Of that number, 92 per cent estimated there were less than five per cent of beds available in their trust, while the recommended threshold is set by the College at 15 per cent.

Furthermore, 34 per cent said they would look to find a bed for patients outside of their local area, while nearly a quarter (24 per cent) said they would delay admission and treat them in the community.

Mental health experts are warning that out of area placements can harm patients by increasing their distress, separating them from their family and slowing their recovery. Delays in treatment can lead to an alarming rise in patients needing urgent and emergency care because they can’t get help on time.

Therefore, they are calling for an extra £150 million funding this year to support people returning home from mental health inpatient facilities. They say that the funding is intended to ‘bridge the gap’ between inpatient care and community support to facilitate more timely and effective discharges by providing enhanced support for people as they continue their recovery in the community.

The Royal College of Psychiatrists is also urging the government to invest in additional beds that are properly staffed and resourced in high priority areas, and to commit to build a further six mental health hospitals by 2024/25. This should run alongside funding to increase the capacity and capability of community mental health services.

Adrian James, President of the Royal College of Psychiatrists, said: “The historic problem of shameful mental health bed shortages that Government pledged to end in 2021 is only getting worse. More and more people are in mental health crisis as a result of the pandemic and instead of being able to treat them, psychiatrists are forced to send them miles from home or ask them to wait for months on end to get help. It’s time we stopped treating those with mental illness like second class citizens and offer them the same quality of care as patients with physical health conditions.”