An investigation by Royal College of
Psychiatrists reveals that primary care trusts (PCTs) in England
are wasting hundreds of millions of pounds each year on treating
people with severe mental health problems many miles away from
their own homes.
The results of the investigation are published
exclusively today (14 April 2010) in the
Society Guardian.
Psychiatric rehabilitation services provide
long-term care, over months or even years, for people with severe
and complex mental health problems such as schizophrenia. However,
disinvestment in NHS Rehabilitation Services in recent years has
meant growing numbers of people are being sent to so-called
‘out-of-area treatments’ – often
provided by the independent sector.
The College issued a Freedom of Information
Act request to all primary care trusts and local authorities in
England, asking about their spending on OATs. Analysis of the
responses shows:
- Around £300m is spent by PCTs and local
authorities every year on OATs.
- OATs are on average 66% more expensive than
local treatments.
- 22% of all people receiving rehabilitation
services are placed outside their local area.
Dr Helen Killaspy, chair of the Royal College
of Psychiatrists’ Faculty of Rehabilitation and Social Psychiatry,
said: “Our investigation shows that hundreds of millions of pounds
are being wasted each year on out-of-area treatments. Not only does
this not make economic sense, but people may be taken away from
their families and communities for no good reason. Moving people
back into the care of local services would help people regain
independent living skills as well as saving money.”
The Faculty of Rehabilitation and Social
Psychiatry has found examples of good practice where PCTs have
moved rehabilitation services closer to home. For example,
Islington PCT managed to save £1m a year by moving 17 people in
OATs back to independent and supported living arrangements within
Islington.
Dr Killaspy added: "In recent years, there has
been a rapid and uncontrolled rise in independent sector provision
of OATs. But the degree to which the out-of-area treatments market
has grown does not match clinical need, and a large proportion of
the money currently spent on such placements could be re-invested
locally. The Royal College of Psychiatrists calls on the government
to ensure all PCTs and local authorities are obliged to review
their policies on OATs.”
The Faculty has produced a template for
rehabilitation services, Enabling
Recovery for People with Complex Mental Health Needs,
which sets out a model for the provision of rehabilitation services
in the future. The College has sent a copy of this template to
all PCTs in England.
For further information, please
contact:
Liz Leicester
or Deborah Hart in the Communications
Department.
Telephone: 020 7235 2351 Extensions. 6298 or 6127