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Rethink: Mental health bed shortage is a ‘scandal’

Rethink: Mental health bed shortage is a ‘scandal’

Responding to a joint BBC and Community Care investigation, which found that there has been a 9% reduction in mental health beds in 2011/12, Paul Jenkins, CEO of the charity Rethink Mental Illness said:

“It is an absolute scandal that people facing a mental health crisis are not getting access to services when they need them most. We would never accept this if someone was having a heart attack. A mental health crisis can be just as dangerous but patients are simply being left to fend for themselves and it’s costing lives.

“While of course, anyone who needs a hospital bed should get access to one, the mental health system should also be focussing on providing better services in the community, to prevent people from reaching crisis point in the first place. Our Schizophrenia Commission found last year that early intervention services are being cut. This makes no sense as short term savings will end up costing the NHS much more over time, as people are left to deteriorate to the point where they need inpatient care.

“The problem is that while 23% of the burden on the NHS is mental health, just 13% of the budget is spent on it. Until this basic inequality is resolved, people with mental illness will continue to get a raw deal.”

ENDS

For more information, please contact Rachel Hobbs, Media Manager for Rethink Mental Illness on 020 7840 3138 or email rachel.hobbs@rethink.org

Notes to editors

Rethink Mental Illness is a charity that believes a better life is possible for millions of people affected by mental illness.

For 40 years we have brought people together to support each other. We run services and support groups that change people’s lives and challenge attitudes about mental illness.

We directly support almost 60,000 people every year across England to get through crises, to live independently and to realise they are not alone.

We give information and advice to 500,000 more and we change policy for millions.

For more information go to www.rethink.org

Rachel Hobbs
News and Media Manager, Rethink Mental Illness
0207 840 3138
Tweet me! @Rachel_Rethink