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Half of
psychiatric in-patient wards full, report says
January
12, 2006
Inpatient
psychiatric services are losing out on staff and resources to community
services, according to a mental health watchdog report published
yesterday.
The Mental Health Act Commission's In Place of Fear report also
stated more than half of psychiatric in-patient wards were full
or had more patients than beds.
It also stated that more than half of the wards were understaffed
and had unpleasant, often untherapeutic, environments.
The
commission's report also highlights concern that psychiatrict patients
in some private hospitals "may be at risk" at times of
emergency because of lack of doctors either on site or within easy
reach.
The commissions callis for guidelines on cover arrangements, and
states that NHS patients in private units "should receive no
less a service in terms of medical staffing than would be available
on NHS facilities".
Read for
yourself:
The
Mental Health Act Commission's In Place of Fear report (pdf)
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