Mental health services

People suffering from mental illness are not getting the help they need because of gaps in the provision of community services, a health watchdog warned today.

In its first ever audit of adult community services, the Healthcare Commission finds many of the one in six people experiencing mental health problems are failing to receive adequate care.

Based on a review of 174 mental health teams in England, only nine per cent were "excellent", 45 per cent "good", 43 per cent "fair" and three per cent "weak". To be rated "excellent", the services had to perform consistently well.

The research finds gaps in out-of-hours care services, talking therapies and the provision of information. Less than half of respondents said they had the phone number of someone they could contact at all times.

Mental health charities are concerned about the findings, and the NHS has admitted there is room for improvement.

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