Safety Risks And Failures In Mental Health Settings To Be Reviewed By Government

Safety risks and failings at mental health facilities in England will be investigated as part of a review of patient care, the government has said.

The review of the brief, announced on Monday, will focus on improving safety amid concerns from mental health trust chiefs about reports of abuse and poor care in the service.

A number of charities and mental health organizations hailed the consultation as a "positive step" by the government.

Health Secretary Maria Caulfield said in a statement: "This review is an important first step towards improving safety in mental health hospitals.

"We will look at the data and evidence currently available in health services, including data provided by patients and families, and how we can use this data and evidence more effectively to identify patient safety risks and treatment failures."

Ms Caulfield added: "NHS England has also launched a three-year quality improvement program which aims to tackle the causes of unsafe and poor quality hospital care for mental health, learning disabilities and autism."

Health chiefs are "deeply concerned by the unacceptable reports of abuse and poor care in mental health services in recent months", NHS providers said.

Its policy director, Miriam Deakin, said: “We hope this rapid review will identify and support the urgent steps needed to improve patient safety and tackle abuse in mental health services.

"We are very pleased that the Minister has indicated that the review will be consistent with other work already being done in this area. It is really important to have a clear and consistent message to prioritize and focus efforts and resources.

"We need to listen to service users, their families and carers to improve, and we particularly welcome research on patient and family-reported information, as well as evidence and other sources of information about mental health services." .

Sarah Hughes, chief executive of Mind, said: “This announcement follows reports from some patients and their loved ones in recent months and indeed across the country about failings in mental health hospitals.

"It is not clear that the basis of this investigation is the voice of people with these life experiences. After reports of abuse at Edenfield in September, Mind has called for a full statutory inquiry into the conditions of inpatient mental health facilities.

"This review should gather deeper insights into the systemic failings of mental health care and examine what works in successful mental health facilities that provide safe and therapeutic care."

Sean Duggan, Chief Executive of the NHS Confederation's Mental Health Network, said: “Health leaders working in mental health services are committed to ensuring the safety and dignity of those requiring treatment in hospital.

"They are clear that the patterns we have seen and heard over the past few months are unacceptable and they await the outcome of the review."

News of the review comes after the Prime Minister said £150m of government funding for mental health services would "reduce pressure" on emergency departments.

Funding will be used for 150 new projects to support urgent and emergency mental health services by 2024/25, the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) has announced in a statement.

Rishi Sunak told ITV News that the fund will allow people with mental health problems to receive treatment "closer to home" as it aims to reduce the number of emergency patients.

It will fund 100 new specialist mental health ambulances over the next two years.

The 150 projects include new mental health assessment and emergency centers, remodeling and renovation of existing mental health facilities, including emergency departments, emergency space and expanding crisis lines.

The DHSC said the remaining £7m of funding would go towards new ambulances designed to provide a more relaxed patient environment.

The government says it is investing an extra £2.3 billion a year in mental health services by 2024, which will train 27,000 more mental health professionals and provide support to two million more people.

Conducting a risk assessment with a young person with mental health problems and learning difficulties