NHS relies on outside help for mental health

THE NHS has become “reliant” on private firms, charities and social enterprises to deliver routine mental health care, experts have warned.

- By Storm Newton

Analysis by The King's Fund has found more than one in four NHS mental health beds is now outsourced.

The independent sector provides vital “surge capacity” for the health service during periods of high demand but the think tank said the NHS has now moved “far beyond” this.

And it warned using more outside help could leave the health service facing higher costs and leave patients with longer stays in hospital.

The King's Fund said between January and March NHS trusts had almost 18,000 mental health beds available, with 89.5% occupied.

Increase

But in March an extra 7,195 were available in the independent sector — around 29% of NHS-funded mental health bed capacity in England.