20.11.13
Care for self-harming patients ‘variable’
There is significant variation in hospital care for people who have self-harmed, new research has highlighted.
A study published in the BMJ Open analysed 32 hospitals over a three-month period, and found that over two-thirds did not get a specialist psychological assessment. The proportion of episodes that received an assessment in line with national guidance varied from 22-88%, researchers said.
Senior author of the study, Prof Nav Kapur, told BBC News: “We were surprised to find that despite national guidelines and policy initiatives, the management of self-harm in English hospitals is as variable as ever. This is important because the treatment patients get in hospital affects their outcome.
“It remains to be seen how the more recent guidance and the linked quality standards for self-harm services will impact on care. Hopefully, people who self-harm will increasingly get the assessment and treatment they need.”
Vicki Nash, head of policy and campaigns at the mental health charity Mind, said: “When someone has been hospitalised as a result of harming themselves, they are in crisis, and need urgent help and support.
“It is not acceptable that, despite clear guidance, the quality of service you receive still depends on where you live.”
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