CQC report highlights mental health crisis care failings

People undergoing mental health crises are not always receiving the care and support they need, according to a report from the Care Quality Commission (CQC).

The study sought views from people who have experienced different types of mental health crisis care and found that while 86 percent of those who had dealt with charities and volunteers felt their concerns were taken seriously, only 37 percent said the same of accident and emergency staff.

People often reported poor attitudes from staff towards injuries caused by self-harm, with only 14 percent of patients overall saying the care they received provided the right response and helped them to resolve their crisis.

According to the CQC, this shows a failure by local authorities, NHS trusts and clinical commissioning groups to work together – a major issue, given that more than 68,800 people were admitted to a mental health ward for urgent care in England in 2013/14.

As such, the regulator has called for better training and greater access to 24-hour support services.

Dr Paul Lelliott, the CQC's deputy chief inspector of hospitals and lead for mental health, said: "It is not acceptable for people with mental health problems to be treated differently to those with physical health problems."