Providers call for reversal of mental health investment ‘neglect’

In the recent capital funding announcement, mental health trusts were not included in the six developments given the green light for an immediate start, or the 21 trusts handed seed funding, NHS Providers said. Just three of the 20 hospital projects allocated funding earlier in the summer are at mental health trusts, it added.

Analysis by the trust representative body showed an increase in reported patient safety incidents caused by infrastructure. Mental health trusts had a higher percentage growth in infrastructure incidents compared with trusts as a whole. There were seven never events reported in mental health trusts in 2018 as a result of a shower or curtain rail failing and one as a result from a fall from a window, it added.

‘We have seen repeated warnings of the risks – sometimes fatal – arising from the long-term neglect of our mental health estate. And we have heard repeated pledges from government to ensure parity of esteem for mental health conditions,’ said Saffron Cordery (pictured), NHS Providers deputy chief executive.

‘How bad does the situation have to get before these warm words translate into practical steps to ensure a safe therapeutic environment that respects the dignity and privacy of patients who rely on these services?

‘And how can we hope to overcome the severe recruitment challenges we face in mental health without a clear commitment to improve the often-unacceptable physical infrastructure? This was a damaging and regrettable oversight which must be put right.’