Mental Health

NHS staff to receive ‘fast-track’ mental health support as part of wellbeing plans

21.02.19: The government has pledged to provide better mental health and wellbeing support for NHS staff as part of its ‘workforce implementation plan,’ based on the recommendations of Health Education England’s (HEE) Staff and Learners&...

Suicidal NHS employee unfairly dismissed after being issued with ‘appalling’ legal threat by trust

20.02.19: An NHS staff member was threatened with legal action by an ambulance trust after he reported feeling suicidal and was unfairly dismissed, an employment tribunal ruled, in the most “appalling response” judges had seen. The tribun...

Priory Group to close High Wycombe hospital after damning CQC report places it in special measures

13.02.19: A hospital for young people with learning disabilities run by a private mental health group has been put in special measures after a damning CQC report. The group has subsequently decided to apply to de-register the hospital and transfer its pat...

Hospital where patients voted on each other’s seclusion placed in special measures

06.02.19: A major provider of mental health services has had one of its hospitals placed into special measures after inspectors were “troubled” to find “a number of serious issues,” including failure to protect patients from risks...

Mental health and the NHS estate: putting it right

06.02.19: With toilets falling apart, poor soundproofing, and uncomfortably hard flooring, mental health facilities can often feel more like prisons than actual hospitals. Andy Bell, deputy chief executive at the Centre for Mental Health, outlines the thr...

‘Outstanding’ trust chair appointed to special measures trust

29.01.19: England’s worst performing mental health trust has appointed a new chair to help run the Norfolk and Suffolk FT (NSFT) out of special measures. Marie Gabriel CBE will take over as chair at NSFT, replacing the acting chair Tim Newcomb...

Troubled private mental health group sees marked improvements says CQC

24.01.19: Priory Group’s Ticehurst House has been rated as ‘good’ overall by the CQC, introducing major improvements following a previous inspection which found it to be in breach of care regulations and facing a multi-million pound fine...

Top London mental health trust reveals chief executive’s plans to retire

22.01.19: A top London mental health trust has announced that its chief executive will be retiring from his role later this year after “six very successful years.” Matthew Patrick will step down from the top job at South London and Maudsl...

NHS failing in mental health provision for young people and children, says PAC

16.01.19: The NHS is currently failing young people with mental health problems, with only three in 10 receiving the NHS-funded treatment they needed last year, according to MPs. A report from the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) has slammed “un...

Risk of further deaths at mental health service warns coroner in wake of 22-year-old death

15.01.19: A coroner’s report into the death of a 22-year-old has slammed a mental health service for children and young adults and warned that there is a risk that future deaths will occur unless action is taken. Assistant coroner for Birmingha...

Private mental health group faces multimillion fine after death of NHS-funded girl in its care

11.01.19: A private mental health group is facing a multimillion-pound fine for breaching health and safety laws after a 14-year old with a history of suicide attempts died in its care. Amy El-Keria was treated at the Priory Group’s Ticehurst H...

Planned trust merger ‘hampered day-to-day services’ as provider’s rating drops to ‘requires improvement’

09.01.19: A West Midlands mental health trust that recently aborted merger plans has been urged to improve after inspectors found that the trust lacked sufficient governance systems, staff failed to manage medicines consistently, and some properties were...

NHS to increase community, mental health spends by £4.5bn as part of new digital ICS pledge

07.01.19: Spending on community healthcare will be at least £4.5bn higher five years from now, with health bodies coming together to provide joined-up care in partnership with local government as the NHS plans on having the entire of England covered...

Leading the way: The Translational Research Collaboration for Mental Health

19.12.18: Professor John Geddes, director of the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Oxford Health Biomedical Research Centre, introduces the new Translational Research Collaboration for Mental Health (TRC-MH): a group of investigators, based in...

Right people, right place, right now

12.12.18: Sean Duggan, chief executive of the Mental Health Network, raises concerns around the mental health workforce and shares some best practice from Cornwall. A broad approach will be necessary to tackle the workforce crisis engulfing the menta...