A range of organisations and individuals have given their support to Right here, right now, our review of people’s experiences of help, care and support during a mental health crisis.
Alistair Burt, Minister of State for Community and Social Care, said:
We asked CQC to do this investigation so we could shine a light and better understand the perspectives of people who have experienced a mental health crisis. It is clear that there is still a long way to go to make sure everyone is treated compassionately in the right place and at the right time.
We’re tackling historic underfunding and have increased investment in mental health by £300 million last year. We have also introduced the first treatment targets to make sure people get the prompt support they need and mental health is treated on the same terms as physical health. More people than ever before are receiving talking therapies, we are working hard to tackle mental health stigma, and work continues to improve early intervention services to make sure that people get the care they need to prevent crisis situations happening.
Street triage schemes joining up police nursing are proving to be successful and we have halved the number of people going through a mental health crisis going to police cells.
Improving mental health care is my priority. I am clear that there is so much more to achieve and we all need to work together to achieve it. The CQC will now inspect crisis care arrangements in every service and I have asked them to continue to help stamp out poor care and help us to make sure that people with physical and mental health conditions are treated with equal importance.
Paul Farmer, Chief Executive of Mind, said:
This is an important review that looks in detail at a vital part of NHS mental health services. We welcome its findings and the thorough, person-centred way in which it has been conducted.
The report will not come as a surprise to anyone who has found themselves in crisis or who is involved in supporting people when they are at their most unwell. We know that, while excellent services do exist, the emergency response for mental health in many parts of England is just not good enough. We take for granted that when we have a physical health emergency, we will get the help we need urgently. It should be no different for mental health, yet far too many people are just not getting the help they need.
This report is a clear call to action. Mental health services are the victim of years of neglect and funding cuts over the last few years have taken their toll, at a time of rising demand. National and local commissioners must now make mental health a priority and invest in the future of our mental health services.
We share the CQC’s optimism that the Crisis Care Concordat is a big opportunity to address the issues raised in this review. Every local area in England now has a detailed action plan for improving the support available for people in crisis, which has been signed by commissioners, NHS trusts, the police, local authorities and other services and agencies. It has been a huge piece of work getting to this point but in a way the work is just beginning. The challenge now is for every local area to deliver on their action plan so that everyone experiencing a mental health problem gets the help they need, when they need it.
Brian Dow, Director of External Affairs at Rethink said:
This report makes for painful reading, and seems to suggest an upside-down world in which patients feel they get the worst care where they should be getting the best.
We need a more sympathetic response. Sympathy, understanding and good quality care when a patient walks in the door of A and E, and a sympathetic system where health and social care teams along with charities work in partnership to support the person properly after they are discharged.
What would be unacceptable for physical illness should not be acceptable for mental illness.
The Mental Health Providers Forum (MHPF) said:
MHPF welcomes the launch of Right Here, Right Now, a comprehensive review of crisis care service provision which raises important concerns about the effectiveness of care currently available for people with mental health problems.
As we have been assisting the CQC to collate the views of people and carers for their pre-inspection consultations, we know that individuals have been highlighting their experiences relating to crisis care.
This report supports evidence that there is a large variation in crisis care across the country and a lack of safe, quality services for those in need, which needs to be addressed.
The Crisis Care Concordat has been deservedly praised as an initiative making improvements in this area and we are pleased that the role of the voluntary sector has been recognised for providing help for people in a timely way.
The CQC is serious about listening and shaping its approach to promote better care and support for people using services and we hope that this report demonstrates an opportunity for further improvements to be made.
Jabeer Butt, Deputy CEO of the Race Equality Foundation, said:
The review rightly challenges the NHS and health services to ensure that the quality of care does not vary from place to place, time to time, or person to person. Black and minority ethnic people have some of the poorest experiences of crisis care, and find themselves in the crisis system more often. As the report recommends, one of the ways to accomplish the change needed is through engagement and involvement at all levels with communities and the people who are using services.