Have a question?
033 3772 0409

Mental Health Solicitors

Fragmented care for mental health patients “unacceptable and unnecessary” (27 January 2017)

Date: 27/01/2017
Duncan Lewis, Mental Health Solicitors, Fragmented care for mental health patients “unacceptable and unnecessary”

Mental health charity Mind has said that it is “unacceptable and unnecessary” that people with mental health problems are dying younger because of fragmented care.

The charity was responding to the National Confidential Enquiry into Patient Outcome and Deaths (NCEPOD) report, which looks at how hospital staff such as physicians and surgeons respond to the mental health needs of patients admitted to acute general hospitals for management of their physical health needs.

The report found a lack of joined up care between physical and mental health.

Chief Executive of Mind, Paul Farmer, said:

“We welcome this report, which shines a spotlight on disjointed care within acute hospitals and the impact this can have on patients’ health and recovery.

“For years, people with mental health problems have been telling us how a lack of understanding of mental health has negatively affected their health and recovery – as such, we particularly support the recommendation to roll out mental health training for all staff in general hospitals.

“Mental health and physical health problems go hand in hand, yet we still see fragmented care, with devastating consequences.

“It’s unacceptable and unnecessary that if you have a severe mental health problem, you typically develop medical conditions a decade earlier than other people – and die 15 to 20 years younger as a result.

“That’s why it’s so important that we make joined up care a priority for people with mental health problems.

“Better integration was one of the three main themes of the Five Year Forward View for Mental Health, which came out of a consultation with 20,000 people living with a mental health problem, or working within mental health.”


The report Mental Health in General Hospitals: Treat as One (2017) highlights the quality of mental health and physical healthcare for those aged 18 or over who have a significant mental health condition and who are admitted to a general hospital.

The report takes a critical look at areas where the care of patients could be improved – and identifies remediable factors in the clinical and organisational care of such patients.

The report makes several principal recommendations, including the development of national guidelines outlining the expectations of general hospital staff in the management of mental health conditions. These should include the point at which a referral to liaison psychiatry should be made, what should trigger a referral to liaison psychiatry and the relevant information a referral should contain.

The report also states that liaison psychiatry review should provide clear and concise documented plans in the general hospital notes at the time of assessment – and in order to overcome the divide between mental and physical healthcare, liaison psychiatry services should be fully integrated into general hospitals.

Record sharing – paper or electronic – between mental health hospitals and general hospitals also needs to be improved, says the report.

Duncan Lewis Mental Health Solicitors

Duncan Lewis is the UK’s largest provider of Legal Aid mental health services and can advise mental health patients on a wide range of issues – including access to NHS mental health services and detention under the Mental Health Act.

Duncan Lewis mental health solicitors regularly visit NHS hospitals to advise on mental health law – and are available across England and Wales at short notice for hospital and police station appointments.

In some cases, Duncan Lewis mental health solicitors may be able to advise the nearest relative or carer of a mental health patient on a range of issues, including initiating treatment reviews where appropriate.

For expert legal advice on mental health law, call the Duncan Lewis Mental Health Solicitors Helpline on 020 3114 1124.


For all Mental Health related matter contact us now.Contact Us

Call us now on 033 3772 0409 or click here to send online enquiry.
Duncan Lewis is the trading name of Duncan Lewis (Solicitors) Limited. Registered Office is 143-149 Fenchurch St, London, EC3M 6BL. Company Reg. No. 3718422. VAT Reg. No. 718729013. A list of the company's Directors is displayed at the registered offices address. Authorised and Regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority . Offices all across London and in major cities in the UK. ©Duncan Lewis >>Legal Disclaimer, Copyright & Privacy Policy. Duncan Lewis do not accept service by email.