Need for long-term investment in NHS mental health estates and facilities

Responding to a report by the King’s Fund on the NHS’ reliance on the independent sector for the delivery of mental health care, the chief executive of NHS Providers, Daniel Elkeles, said:

"There is plenty of innovation and exciting work being led by NHS mental health providers to improve care and look after more people in community settings to reduce the need for inpatient beds.

"But we have seen a huge increase in prevalence of mental ill-health in our society and significant capacity limitations too.

"That has resulted in far too many patients being sent to privately funded beds in out-of-area placements.

"This research underlines the importance of trusts being able to make strategic, long-term investments in their estates and facilities to deliver high quality services for their local population’s patients."