“We share CQC’s concerns about patients being treated with dignity and respect and the overrepresentation of some black and minority ethnic groups within the patients subject to the Mental Health Act. The recommendations of the independent review of the Act should be implemented to help address these issues.
“We also have serious concerns about the lack of inpatient mental health beds and the detrimental effect that out of area placements have on patients. We have called for extra provision for those in urgent need of care. It is particularly shocking to learn that seven people died who had been identified as needing admission but no bed was found.
“Last year the College commissioned independent research by The Strategy Unit, NHS Midlands and Lancashire Commissioning Support Unit (CSU) to review the provision of acute inpatient psychiatric care for adults.
“Their report identifies 13 areas that are particularly struggling to manage levels of demand with the available bed capacity and as a result we called upon the Government to address the shortfall.”
Professor Wendy Burn, President of the Royal College of Psychiatrists
For further information, please contact:
- Email: press@rcpsych.ac.uk
- Twitter: @rcpsych
- Out-of-hours contact number: 07860 755896