Weekly News

Number of mental health patients treated hundreds of miles from home hits new high

The Independent

Monday 6th March 2017

By Ben Kentish

Doctors and mental health services explain that services users who are seriously ill are in a "crisis". Hundreds of patients are being re-located in provisions that are miles away from their home to receive treatment.

An analysis of official statistics shows mental health patients in England were sent for “out-of-area” treatment on 2,037 occasions in the four months to January 2017 alone. In January, more mental health patients were sent away from their homes in order to receive treatment in comparison to any other point ever since the beginning of data being collected last year. 

Experts explain that the result of sending patients far away from their homes would delay the treatment process, prolong their suffering and is a significant barrier to recovery. However, funding cuts and a shortage of beds means that doctors are left with limited options but to make calls to hospitals around the country so that treatment can be secured. This is for patients who suffer from mental health conditions such as schizophrenia, anorexia and psychosis.

The problem has occurred because the government have constantly pledged that they will improve mental health care. In January, Prime Minister Theresa May said and vowed that "the power of Government" will support the services.

Many mental health patients who are sent far from home end up spending months stuck in hospital, with almost one in six remaining in treatment for more than 31 days. Doctors say this can be highly detrimental but that they often have no alternative. 

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/mental-health-patients-out-of-area-placements-theresa-may-psychosis-anorexia-schizophrenia-a7611571.html