Government orders urgent review into safety of mental health patients

As reported by The Independent, the government has ordered an urgent investigation into the safety of patients in mental health wards in England, after repeated warnings of a crisis in the system

Mental health minister Maria Caulfield announced the “rapid review” on Monday, calling it “an essential first step in improving safety in mental health inpatient settings”.

The probe will focus on how the information provided by patients and families can be used “more effectively to identify patient safety risks and failures in care”, Ms Caulfield said in a written statement to parliament.

The review will be chaired by Dr Geraldine Strathdee, who is already leading an inquiry into deaths spanning two decades in mental health wards in Essex. That inquiry’s work will continue alongside – and be complemented by – the rapid review, Ms Caulfield said.

An investigation by The Independent last month revealed a systemic and fatal failure to provide basic physical care on NHS mental health wards – and now more than 50 people have now come forward, with nine patients at the Maidenhead hospital, now called Taplow Manor, lodging legal claims over incidents dating as far back as 2003. Some allege they were ignored while abuse continued after trying to raise the alarm with the NHS and Quality Care Commission.

The CQC said last month that it would carry out a review of the group’s leadership and organisation operations in March, in response to the allegations of poor care.

Rishi Sunak’s government also announced on Monday that a previously earmarked £150m would be used to procure up to 100 specialist mental health ambulances and fund 150 ‘new facilities to support mental health urgent and emergency care services’.