The mental health service in England is in crisis and unsafe, says one of the country's leading psychiatrists.
Dr Martin Baggaley, medical director of the South London and Maudsley NHS Trust, spoke out as an investigation by BBC News and Community Care magazine reveals more than 1,500 mental health beds have closed in recent years. Many trusts have all their beds filled. Care Minister Norman Lamb said the current situation was "unacceptable" and provision must improve. While there was a drive to treat more people in the community, he said beds must be available when patients needed them.
Freedom of Information requests were sent to 53 of England's 58 mental health trusts, by BBC News and Community Care, and 46 trusts replied. The figures show that 1,711 mental health beds have been closed since April 2011, including 277 between April and August 2013.
Lucy Bowden ended up in the back of a police van due to a lack of beds after voluntarily seeking help.The 33-year-old, who self-harms, was left wandering around the grounds of her local accident and emergency unit after being told there were no psychiatric beds available after she'd been treated following an episode. Eventually the police were called, who had to section her to force her local psychiatric hospital to provide her with care.
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