• NHS England reports that thousands more people who go to a major A&E departments experiencing mental health crisis are now able to access specialist care quickly.
• The fourth national survey of liaison psychiatry services has confirmed that every consultant-led 24-hour A&E department in England now has a specialist psychiatric liaison service to treat patients with mental health needs.
• The study also shows that more than two thirds of those teams are now on duty 24/7, compared to two out of five in 2016.
• NHS England has invested £45m in 71 sites since 2017, and a further rollout is backed by £48m of new funding over the next 2 years.
  
  

Responding to the announcement that specialist mental health crisis teams now operate in every major A&E, the director of policy and strategy at NHS Providers, Miriam Deakin said:

“We are pleased to see the progress that has been made in expanding liaison services to ensure that patients with mental health needs are treated by specialists in emergency departments.

There is significant unmet need and expertise is required, not just in acute settings but right across the system.

Miriam Deakin    Co-Director of Development and Engagement

“This is particularly welcome given that our recent report, Mental health services: addressing the care deficit, identified how demand for these services is outstripping supply. There is significant unmet need and expertise is required, not just in acute settings but right across the system.

“The continuing increased investment in these services is therefore welcome.

They need the right investment and workforce in order to genuinely meet the needs of mental health patients who seek treatment during a crisis.

Miriam Deakin    Co-Director of Development and Engagement

“It is vital that these services are adequately resourced. They need the right investment and workforce in order to genuinely meet the needs of mental health patients who seek treatment during a crisis. Capital investment is also needed to ensure the environment in A&E is safe and supports appropriate care, assessment and treatment.

“It is also vital that providers and commissioners work together to ensure joined-up care across all pathways.”