Have a question?
033 3772 0409

Legal News

1m mental health patients may end up in A&E, says former LibDem health minister (5 January 2015)

Date: 05/01/2015
Duncan Lewis, Legal News Solicitors, 1m mental health patients may end up in A&E, says former LibDem health minister

Former Liberal Democrat health minister Paul Burstow has said that if mental health admissions in A&E departments continue at their current level, more than one million mental health patients could end up being treated in A&E departments this winter.

The Guardian reports that, in the last three months of 2014, it is estimated 280,000 mental health patients were admitted to hospital via A&E departments.

Casualty doctors have warned that “overstretched” A&E departments are not the place for patients suffering from mental health problems.

In 2012, the government ceased publishing figures for the number of patients suffering from a mental health condition who were treated in A&E units.

Mr Burstow held the post of health minister until September 2012 – and has obtained 10 years of figures relating to the treatment of mental health patients in A&E.

He had the figures analysed and found that, if the current level of mental health A&E hospital admissions continues, the number of mental health patients being treated in A&E departments would have risen from a total of 330,000 in 2002 – to a record level of more than a million in 2014.

Mr Burstow’s findings are supported by the testimony of doctors working in A&E departments, who say they are treating increasing numbers of mental health patients.

Mental health services in many areas of the country have been cut back – with some health trusts cutting 20% from their mental health services budgets.

As a result, mental health services have been restructured by mental health trusts – with more emphasis on treating acute care patients at home and in the community, rather than by admission to a specialist acute care unit.

Mental health patients at risk of self-harming or suicide – who previously might have been admitted to an acute care unit – are now offered 24/7 helpline support by some health trusts, with the aim of allowing them to remain in the own homes as much as possible rather than becoming institutionalised in mental health units.

However, some mental health charities have warned that many metal health patients feel “let down” by the reorganisation of services – and are using A&E units to access care.

Mr Burstow said the increase in the number of mental health patients was the result of “societal issues tumbling into emergency wards”.

The chief executive of Rethink Mental Illness, Mark Winstanley, said:

“The fact that so many people with mental health problems are going to A&E for support shows how badly they are being let down by the system.

“Too often, going to A&E is the only way people can get any care at all, because mental health services are desperately under-funded and overstretched.

“Putting in place more specialist mental health services in A&E would be welcome – but it won’t come close to tackling these problems.

“What we really need to see is money redistributed from acute care to transform the entire mental health system – so that everyone can get good care for their mental and physical health, no matter where they are or what their circumstances.”

Mental health services receive 13% of the NHS budget – although mental health issues account for 23% of the total impact of ill health in the UK.

A spokesman for the Department of Health said:

“We know the NHS is busier than ever before, which is why we’ve given the NHS a record £700 million this winter for more doctors, nurses and beds to support both physical and mental health care.

“The NHS has ensured there are plans in every area to manage the extra demand.

“The benefits to mental health services from this money include more funding for liaison psychiatry in A&E departments, more support for people who have self-harmed – and extra help for mental health crisis teams.”

Duncan Lewis Mental Health Solicitors

Duncan Lewis mental health solicitors can advise mental health patients on issues such as detention under the Mental Health Act – and access to mental health services.

Duncan Lewis mental health solicitors regularly visit police stations and hospitals to advise on mental health law – and are available at short notice for appointments nationwide.

For expert legal advice on mental health law, call the Duncan Lewis Mental Health Solicitors Helpline on 0203 114 1124.

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 Spencer House, 29 Grove Hill Road, Harrow, HA1 3BN. 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.