There has been a significant rise in the number of adults with mental illness being sent out of their local area for treatment, according to a BBC investigation.
In the BBC news article College President, Dr Lade Smith CBE, provides an expert voice on the issue explaining that these inappropriate out-of-area placements could slow the recovery of patients with complex mental health needs. Out-of-area placements occur when no beds are available in the local area. NHS data shows 5,500 adults were affected by this practice in the year to March 2024, up by 25% compared to the previous year.
Responding to the BBC’s report, Professor Subodh Dave, Dean of the Royal College of Psychiatrists, said:
“It is unacceptable that thousands of people with severe mental illness are being forced to travel hundreds of miles away from their loved ones for essential care. This harmful practice should have been stopped years ago, and it is concerning to see it is becoming significantly more common.
“People experiencing depression, eating disorders, schizophrenia and other severe mental illnesses are likely to be extremely distressed and vulnerable. The love and support of their family and friends plays a vital role in aiding their recovery. Being isolated puts their health at risk, leading to a longer stay in hospital.
“Mental health teams want to provide people with high-quality, continuous care, both in hospital, and in the community during the return to daily life. This increases the likelihood of people successfully resuming education or work and reduces their risk of relapse. If patients are sent out of their area, the team treating them will not be familiar with their personal needs and may not be able to coordinate with their local services to help facilitate their long-term recovery.
“The Government, supporting NHSE, has an important opportunity to put an end to this outrageous practice once and for all. This will not only benefit people’s health but also ease pressure on the NHS.
“Placing greater emphasis on community services can prevent people from experiencing a mental health crisis and needing specialist care to begin with. We also need greater investment in discharge packages to free up beds for those who need them most.”
Campaigning for better mental health policy
For further information, please contact:
- Email: press@rcpsych.ac.uk
- Twitter: @rcpsych
- Out-of-hours contact number: 07860 755896