People are dying due to English mental health hospital admissions far from home, national report finds
People are dying by suicide or experiencing physical and psychological harm due to being admitted to a mental health hospital in England far from their home.
That is the stark finding of new national report published today (Thursday) by the Health Services Safety Investigations Body (HSSIB) into the use of mental health hospitals that are a long way from a patient’s home.
Other key findings of the report were:
- Out of area placements, the term used by the NHS to describe these inpatient settings, are being used more – often because the local NHS mental health hospital is full and it is the only available option
- Patients, families and carers rarely want an out of area placement, but their choice and opinions are not always taken into consideration
- Advocacy services are vital for a patient to be able to put forward their views for consideration in decision making about their care, but advocacy is not always offered to patients
VoiceAbility Policy Lead Stephen Hinchley, who contributed evidence to the HSSIB investigation, said:
Many people, including children, are suffering avoidable harm because they cannot access the mental health support they need close to home.
“Overall, this is yet another report that paints a picture of a mental health system under huge stress and needing more investment.
The HSSIB report also confirms the importance of access to good quality advocacy services for everyone admitted to a mental health hospital.
The report is one in a series of investigations by the HSSIB commissioned by the UK government in response to concerns about patient safety in mental health hospitals in England.
Further information is available on HSSIB’s website.