‘Inadequate’ support is given to those needing mental health care
- 12 Jun
Regulators have said that people in need of urgent mental health care in England are receiving inadequate support.
The CQC have reviewed help given to people in mental health crisis and said the system is “struggling to cope”, reports the BBC.
A “lack of compassion” by A&E staff was also highlighted.
The CQC carried out its investigation following the signing of a Crisis Care Concordat between the government and the sector last year which promised round-the-clock support to those who needed it.
The review found that 42% of patients did not get the help they needed.
A third of patients who ended up in A&E believed they had been treated with compassion.
Dr Paul Lelliott, the CQC's mental health lead, said while there were some excellent examples of care, the findings must "act as a wake-up call. Worryingly many people told us that when they were having a crisis they often felt the police and ambulance crews were more caring and took their concerns more seriously than the medical and mental health professionals they encountered."
Paul Farmer, chief executive of Mind, the mental health charity, said: "The report will not come as a surprise to anyone who has found themselves in crisis or who is involved in supporting people when they are at their most unwell. We take for granted that when we have a physical health emergency we will get the help we need urgently. It should be no different for mental health."
Care Minister Alistair Burt said the government was trying to tackle the problems in mental health with its new treatment targets and extra funding that were both announced before the election.
"Improving mental health care is my priority," he added.
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