Figures show bed days per mental health patient have fallen 10% in last two years (19 May 2015)

Healthwatch England has said that cuts to mental health budgets may mean mental health patients are being sent home after inpatient care without being sufficiently prepared.

The healthcare watchdog found that data collected from a Freedom of Information request shows psychiatric patients are now spending six days fewer in hospital than in 2012-13.

BBC News reports that figures from 32 mental health trusts show that the average number of “bed days” per mental health patient per year has fallen by 10%.

Chairwoman of Healthwatch England, Anna Bradley, said that the findings reflect “a troubling picture”, where patients discharged from hospital often struggle to access crisis treatment at home.

"What is particularly problematic is when people leave institutions, they cannot access the support they need in the community,” Ms Bradley said

“We have heard of cases where people have taken their own lives.

“Our concern is that people are being lost between hospitals and community services.”

Since mental health budgets were cut across England, mental health beds have been lost and many services combined, with more emphasis on care at home and support for patients reaching a crisis via 24/7 helplines.

However, in recent months, more A&E staff have reported increasing numbers of mental health patients in crisis attending accident and emergency departments because they are unable to access community support.

Recent figures also show that, in recent years, the suicides among mental health patients being cared for at home have been double those of inpatients.

Chairman of the National Suicide Prevention Strategy advisory group, Professor Louis Appleby, said that the figures represent a change in the nature of acute psychiatric care – with treatment increasingly being provided outside hospitals.
Prof Appleby added that, while many patients prefer to receive care at home, it can also represent a risk.

"The ideological drive towards services in the community and away from beds can go too far,” said Prof Appleby.

”Eventually, that drive crosses a line – and that line is safety.

“If you combine the ideological drive with pressure on resources, you have a toxic combination,” Prof Appleby added.
Chris Naylor from the health think-tank the King's Fund said evidence shows that mental health care is being underfunded:
“Mental health accounts for about 23% of the burden of disease in England, but it only receives around 11% of the funding.

“If the government is serious about putting mental health care on an equal footing with physical health, then it's going to need a really serious commitment in the next parliament.”

A spokesman from the Department of Health said:

“Commissioners are expected to give a real-terms funding increase to mental health this year.

“NHS funding for mental health increased by £300 million last year.”

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