NHS crisis lines failing to answer suicide calls, BBC research shows
In 10 trusts, some people waited more than an hour for their call to be answered.
"I've literally been crying my eyes out and I've left a message on the answer phone and no-one's ever got back to me. Hannah says she took herself to A&E, a decision she believes may have saved her life, and was later sectioned. Former staff members at three different NHS Trusts have told the BBC that after being hired, they were not given training on assessing or supporting patients.
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Inequalities in children’s mental health care: analysis of routinely collected data on prescribing and referrals to secondary care - BMC PsychiatryBackground One in eight children in the United Kingdom are estimated to have a mental health condition, and many do not receive support or treatment. The COVID-19 pandemic has negatively impacted mental health and disrupted the delivery of care. Prevalence of poor mental health is not evenly distributed across age groups, by sex or socioeconomic groups. Equity in access to mental health care is a policy priority but detailed socio-demographic trends are relatively under-researched. Methods We analysed records for all mental health prescriptions and referrals to specialist mental health outpatient care between the years of 2015 and 2021 for children aged 2 to 17 years in a single NHS Scotland health board region. We analysed trends in prescribing, referrals, and acceptance to out-patient treatment over time, and measured differences in treatment and service use rates by age, sex, and area deprivation. Results We identified 18,732 children with 178,657 mental health prescriptions and 21,874 referrals to specialist outpatient care. Prescriptions increased by 59% over the study period. Boys received double the prescriptions of girls and the rate of prescribing in the most deprived areas was double that in the least deprived. Mean age at first mental health prescription was almost 1 year younger in the most deprived areas than in the least. Referrals increased 9% overall. Initially, boys and girls both had an annual referral rate of 2.7 per 1000, but this fell 6% for boys and rose 25% for girls. Referral rate for the youngest decreased 67% but increased 21% for the oldest. The proportion of rejected referrals increased steeply since 2020 from 17 to 30%. The proportion of accepted referrals that were for girls rose to 62% and the mean age increased 1.5 years. Conclusions The large increase in mental health prescribing and changes in referrals to specialist outpatient care aligns with emerging evidence of increasing poor mental health, particularly since the start of the C
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'The NHS is close to collapse': Shropshire towns out in force at vigils for health serviceHundreds of people across Shropshire came together at vigils to show solidarity with striking NHS workers, as healthcare officials warn up to 500 people are dying every week because of the crisis in emergency care.
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Biggest strike in NHS's history could take place next monthThe biggest strike in the NHS's history could take place next month, but do you think nurses and ambulance staff should be allowed to walk out on the same day? Join the conversation:
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'It's not safe' - On the picket-line with striking nursesStriking nurses and frontline NHS staff protest in solidarity for better pay and staffing conditions
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