First reported 13 Feb 2014•Latest report 12 Mar 2026
Definition
What this concern includes
Includes deficiencies in the availability, adequacy or geographic provision of psychiatric inpatient beds, including resulting admission delays and dedicated bed-allocation or patient-flow measures used to manage the shortage.
Not included
Excludes generic acute hospital or emergency-department bed shortages that are not specifically psychiatric.
Excludes general discharge-planning, discharge-documentation or medication failures unless they are explicitly identified as part of managing psychiatric inpatient bed capacity.
Excludes training, communication or staffing deficiencies that are not dedicated to psychiatric inpatient capacity management.
Excludes the safety of an individual discharge where the underlying recurring concern is not insufficient psychiatric inpatient bed capacity.
Reports
67
Distinct published reports
Individual concerns
79
A report can raise multiple concerns
Date range
2014–2026
First to latest report issue date
Stated actions
185
Described in published responses
Reports over time
Reports over time
Reports about this concern issued each year.
* 2026 is projected from reports observed to 7 Sep 2026.
Most frequent recipients
Most frequent recipients
Reports about this concern sent to each recipient.
Department of Health and Social Care41
NHS England33
NHS Birmingham and Solihull Integrated Care Board10
Birmingham and Solihull Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust7
NHS Devon Integrated Care Board3
NHS Greater Manchester Integrated Care Board3
NHS Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland Integrated Care Board3
Surrey and Borders Partnership NHS Foundation Trust3
Birmingham City Council2
Care Quality Commission2
Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust2
Department for Education2
Devon Partnership NHS Trust2
Greater Manchester Health and Social Care Partnership2
Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust2
Ministerial department41
Executive non-departmental public body34
NHS trust29
Integrated care board27
Clinical commissioning group2
English metropolitan district council2
Health and social care service regulator2
Health-system partnership2
Police force2
Domiciliary care provider1
Health and care professional regulator1
Healthcare site1
London borough council1
Private limited company1
Professional body1
Concerns and responses across reports
Only concerns grouped under this recurring concern are included. Select any concern, action or position to view the source wording.
Manchester South
Concerns raised1
Lack of suitable acute mental health beds for young adults
This report raised 10 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Responses linked to these concerns
Each statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
No linked response statements
No respondent-stated action or position is linked to these concerns in the published data.
Inner West London
Concerns raised1
Insufficient local psychiatric beds
This report raised 4 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Responses linked to these concerns
Each statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
No linked response statements
No respondent-stated action or position is linked to these concerns in the published data.
Birmingham and Solihull
Concerns raised2
Unavailability of suitably proximate out-of-area inpatient mental health beds
Insufficient numbers of inpatient mental health beds in Birmingham and Solihull
Responses linked to these concerns
Each statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
Actions described in response An action is something a respondent says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to the concern raised.4
Action
Maintain reciprocal arrangements enabling access to out-of-area inpatient beds when local beds are unavailable.
Stated by NHS Birmingham and Solihull Integrated Care BoardStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 24 May 2019.
Action
Participate as an active partner in the Sustainability and Transformation Partnership and Mental Health Programme Delivery Board.
Stated by NHS Birmingham and Solihull Integrated Care BoardStated in progressThe respondent said that this action was in progress when they made their response on 24 May 2019.
Action
Eliminate out-of-area placements for non-specialist acute inpatient care caused by local bed pressures by 2021.
Stated by NHS EnglandStated plannedThe respondent said that this action was planned when they made their response on 24 May 2019.
Action
Provide clinically led support, including local workshops, to help systems safely and sustainably reduce out-of-area placements.
Stated by NHS EnglandStated in progressThe respondent said that this action was in progress when they made their response on 24 May 2019.
Respondent positions A position is what a respondent says about the concern when they do not describe a specific action.2
Position
The CCG cannot immediately ensure sufficient inpatient bed capacity because capacity and flow depend on factors beyond investment alone, including care models and practice.
Stated by NHS Birmingham and Solihull Integrated Care BoardUnable to actThe respondent said that a constraint prevented them from taking the relevant action.
Position
Bed availability is not simply determined by the number of locally commissioned beds, but largely by whole-system pathway management and community-service investment.
Stated by NHS EnglandDisputes the concernThe respondent disagreed with part of the concern or the basis for it.
Birmingham and Solihull
Concerns raised1
Unavailability of acute inpatient beds
This report raised 1 other concern. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Responses linked to these concerns
Each statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
Actions described in response An action is something a respondent says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to the concern raised.9
Action
Commission system-simulation modelling with partner organisations to identify solutions and priorities for mental-health demand and capacity.
Stated by NHS Birmingham and Solihull Integrated Care BoardStated plannedThe respondent said that this action was planned when they made their response on 26 May 2019.
Action
Fund individual Section 117 health-and-social-care packages where required to facilitate hospital discharge.
Stated by NHS Birmingham and Solihull Integrated Care BoardStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 26 May 2019.
Action
Hold weekly and daily peak-period delayed-discharge escalation calls with providers and local-authority social-work teams.
Stated by NHS Birmingham and Solihull Integrated Care BoardStated in progressThe respondent said that this action was in progress when they made their response on 26 May 2019.
Action
Provide additional investment to BSMHFT above contract value to increase mental-health service capacity.
Stated by NHS Birmingham and Solihull Integrated Care BoardStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 26 May 2019.
Action
Negotiate 2019/20 contract measures to improve capacity through investment and service development.
Stated by NHS Birmingham and Solihull Integrated Care BoardStated in progressThe respondent said that this action was in progress when they made their response on 26 May 2019.
Action
Keep mental-health service pressures under review and develop new initiatives to manage patient flow and improve services.
Stated by NHS Birmingham and Solihull Integrated Care BoardStated in progressThe respondent said that this action was in progress when they made their response on 26 May 2019.
Action
Review patient flow to mitigate risks associated with unavailable inpatient beds.
Stated by Birmingham and Solihull Mental Health NHS Foundation TrustStated in progressThe respondent said that this action was in progress when they made their response on 26 May 2019.
Action
Reduce delayed discharges to improve acute bed availability.
Stated by Birmingham and Solihull Mental Health NHS Foundation TrustStated in progressThe respondent said that this action was in progress when they made their response on 26 May 2019.
Action
Appoint patient flow coordinators to mitigate inpatient bed availability risks.
Stated by Birmingham and Solihull Mental Health NHS Foundation TrustStated in progressThe respondent said that this action was in progress when they made their response on 26 May 2019.
Respondent positions A position is what a respondent says about the concern when they do not describe a specific action.2
Position
Local NHS organisations are responsible for providing mental health services, while NHS England commissions specialised services.
Stated by Department of Health and Social CareRedirects responsibilityThe respondent said that another organisation was responsible for deciding or taking action.
Position
Local commissioners are responsible for determining acute mental health bed provision according to their populations’ needs.
Stated by Department of Health and Social CareRedirects responsibilityThe respondent said that another organisation was responsible for deciding or taking action.
Leicester City and South Leicestershire
Concerns raised1
Lack of identifiable beds for mentally disordered patients in cases of special urgency
Responses linked to these concerns
Each statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
Actions described in response An action is something a respondent says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to the concern raised.1
Action
Prepare and publish a report supporting CCGs and local authorities to improve implementation of section 140 requirements.
Stated by Department of Health and Social CareStated in progressThe respondent said that this action was in progress when they made their response on 28 December 2018.
Respondent positions A position is what a respondent says about the concern when they do not describe a specific action.1
Position
Local authorities, providers, NHS commissioners, police and ambulance services are responsible for agreeing a joint local policy for section 140 admissions.
Stated by Department of Health and Social CareRedirects responsibilityThe respondent said that another organisation was responsible for deciding or taking action.
Inner West London
Concerns raised1
Severe shortage of inpatient psychiatric beds for children and adolescents
This report raised 7 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Responses linked to these concerns
Each statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
No linked response statements
No respondent-stated action or position is linked to these concerns in the published data.
Birmingham and Solihull
Concerns raised1
Unavailability of inpatient mental health beds for patients requiring inpatient treatment
This report raised 5 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Responses linked to these concerns
Each statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
Actions described in response An action is something a respondent says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to the concern raised.5
Action
Commission independent system modelling to identify solutions and investment priorities for mental-health demand and capacity.
Stated by NHS Birmingham and Solihull Integrated Care BoardStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 4 October 2018.
Action
Commission an independent review of inpatient journeys to identify alternatives to admission and reduce avoidable discharge delays.
Stated by NHS Birmingham and Solihull Integrated Care BoardStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 4 October 2018.
Action
Support delayed-transfer initiatives through funded Section 117 care packages and escalation calls with providers and social-work teams.
Stated by NHS Birmingham and Solihull Integrated Care BoardStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 4 October 2018.
Action
Provide additional investment to expand commissioned mental-health service capacity and provision.
Stated by NHS Birmingham and Solihull Integrated Care BoardStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 4 October 2018.
Action
Continue supporting out-of-area NHS and independent hospital admissions when locally commissioned beds are unavailable and admission is necessary.
Stated by NHS Birmingham and Solihull Integrated Care BoardStated in progressThe respondent said that this action was in progress when they made their response on 4 October 2018.
Birmingham and Solihull
Concerns raised1
Unavailability of inpatient mental health beds
This report raised 2 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Responses linked to these concerns
Each statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
Actions described in response An action is something a respondent says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to the concern raised.6
Action
Incorporate learning-from-deaths and demand-and-capacity improvement plans into contracts as service-delivery improvement plans.
Stated by NHS Birmingham and Solihull Integrated Care BoardStated plannedThe respondent said that this action was planned when they made their response on 4 October 2018.
Action
Commission independent system modelling to identify solutions and investment priorities for mental-health demand and capacity.
Stated by NHS Birmingham and Solihull Integrated Care BoardStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 4 October 2018.
Action
Commission an independent review of inpatient journeys to identify alternatives to admission and reduce avoidable discharge delays.
Stated by NHS Birmingham and Solihull Integrated Care BoardStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 4 October 2018.
Action
Support delayed-transfer initiatives through funded Section 117 care packages and escalation calls with providers and social-work teams.
Stated by NHS Birmingham and Solihull Integrated Care BoardStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 4 October 2018.
Action
Provide additional investment to expand commissioned mental-health service capacity and provision.
Stated by NHS Birmingham and Solihull Integrated Care BoardStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 4 October 2018.
Action
Continue supporting out-of-area NHS and independent hospital admissions when locally commissioned beds are unavailable and admission is necessary.
Stated by NHS Birmingham and Solihull Integrated Care BoardStated in progressThe respondent said that this action was in progress when they made their response on 4 October 2018.
Respondent positions A position is what a respondent says about the concern when they do not describe a specific action.2
Position
Funding is not the sole cause of the identified failures, and the link between funding and the deaths cannot currently be validated.
Stated by NHS EnglandDisputes the concernThe respondent disagreed with part of the concern or the basis for it.
Position
The Clinical Commissioning Group will lead the shared demand analysis needed to assess demand, capacity and funding constraints.
Stated by NHS EnglandRedirects responsibilityThe respondent said that another organisation was responsible for deciding or taking action.
Birmingham and Solihull
Concerns raised1
Lack of available inpatient mental health beds
This report raised 6 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Responses linked to these concerns
Each statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
Actions described in response An action is something a respondent says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to the concern raised.5
Action
Commission independent system modelling to identify solutions and investment priorities for mental-health demand and capacity.
Stated by NHS Birmingham and Solihull Integrated Care BoardStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 4 October 2018.
Action
Commission an independent review of inpatient journeys to identify alternatives to admission and reduce avoidable discharge delays.
Stated by NHS Birmingham and Solihull Integrated Care BoardStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 4 October 2018.
Action
Support delayed-transfer initiatives through funded Section 117 care packages and escalation calls with providers and social-work teams.
Stated by NHS Birmingham and Solihull Integrated Care BoardStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 4 October 2018.
Action
Provide additional investment to expand commissioned mental-health service capacity and provision.
Stated by NHS Birmingham and Solihull Integrated Care BoardStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 4 October 2018.
Action
Continue supporting out-of-area NHS and independent hospital admissions when locally commissioned beds are unavailable and admission is necessary.
Stated by NHS Birmingham and Solihull Integrated Care BoardStated in progressThe respondent said that this action was in progress when they made their response on 4 October 2018.
Manchester West
Concerns raised1
Insufficient availability of inpatient psychiatric beds for complex individuals
This report raised 7 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Responses linked to these concerns
Each statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
Actions described in response An action is something a respondent says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to the concern raised.2
Action
Operate cross-service bed-management systems and meetings covering capacity, transfers, discharge planning, incidents and shared learning.
Stated by Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Foundation TrustStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 14 March 2018.
Action
Reduce out-of-area placements and create local inpatient capacity to limit transfers and preserve continuity.
Stated by Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Foundation TrustStated in progressThe respondent said that this action was in progress when they made their response on 14 March 2018.
Pin
Get email alerts
Request correction
Includes deficiencies in the availability, adequacy or geographic provision of psychiatric inpatient beds, including resulting admission delays and dedicated bed-allocation or patient-flow measures used to manage the shortage.
