Mental health services ‘not fit for purpose’ say Mind
According to the results of a year long enquiry commissioned by leading mental health charity Mind, the mental health services on offer to some of society’s most vulnerable people are not fit for purpose, reports The Independent.
The study, which compiled evidence from 400 patients has revealed that some seriously ill patients were subjected to assaults, taunting and overcrowding in hospitals.
Additional findings included individuals on the brink of suicide or with manic depression being unable to access services either because the crisis centre teams were too busy or because the offices were closed outside of working hours.
In response to also uncovering that certain facedown restraint techniques use techniques that could potentially be fatal, Mind have called for a complete ban on the controversial method that is used to try and control some patients.
Whilst the Labour governments record investment in mental health services has meant improvements to hospital admissions and home treatments, in the majority of other areas mental health teams are understaffed and undertrained.
Paul Burstow, Care Services minister has said that the government is committed to increasing patient choice and will publish more data on mental health services so that the public can challenge commissioners who commission services which do not fit best practice.
“Mental health consumes the biggest chunk of NHS spend but do we always get the best value for money? The answer to that has to be ‘No’, with consequences for individuals using those services.” He said.
Vickie Nash, who acts as the head of Policy and Campaigns at Mind has said the inquiry into mental health services has unveiled some harrowing evidence of inhumane treatment and violence that is completely unacceptable. Mind hope that the findings will go some way in drawing attention to the need for far better mental health services.