Action needed to address long delays for people in crisis

Responding to figures from the Royal College of Nursing on waits in A&E for mental health patients, NHS Providers’ director of policy and strategy, Isabel Lawicka, said:

“Trusts are working hard to help people with mental health problems access support as early as possible with the staff and resources they have available, but too often people in crisis face long delays.

“This is causing real suffering.

“Despite some progress in growing the mental health workforce, there are continuing shortfalls both in the number and skill-mix of staff.

“Retention, particularly of mental health nurses, remains a challenge.

“We need to see a fully costed and funded national workforce plan for health and care staff that includes an ambitious programme of training and development, and capital investment to ensure a better therapeutic environment for patients, and better places to work for staff.”