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.
Inner North London
Concerns raised1
Failure to provide timely and appropriately urgent access to a mental health bed
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.2
Action
Work closely with CANDI to assist its investigation, action-plan development and implementation to prevent similar incidents.
Stated by Royal Free London NHS Foundation TrustStated plannedThe respondent said that this action was planned when they made their response on 1 October 2017.
Action
Complete a serious incident review examining the sequence of events and contributory factors in the case.
Stated by North London NHS Foundation TrustStated in progressThe respondent said that this action was in progress when they made their response on 1 October 2017.
Respondent positions A position is what a respondent says about the concern when they do not describe a specific action.2
Position
CANDI, which employs and manages the Mental Health Liaison service, must substantively address the concerns.
Stated by Royal Free London NHS Foundation TrustRedirects responsibilityThe respondent said that another organisation was responsible for deciding or taking action.
Position
Bed allocation urgency was assessed against clinical risk and safety, with priority given to patients not in places of safety.
Stated by North London NHS Foundation TrustDisputes the concernThe respondent disagreed with part of the concern or the basis for it.
Exeter and Greater Devon
Concerns raised1
Lack of available psychiatric inpatient beds
This report raised 3 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.7
Action
Raise inpatient bed-capacity and patient-safety risks with commissioners through contract monitoring and formal Board-level correspondence.
Stated by Devon Partnership NHS TrustStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 5 March 2017.
Action
Extend Crisis Resolution and Home Treatment team operating hours to midnight, seven days a week.
Stated by Devon Partnership NHS TrustStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 5 March 2017.
Action
Provide temporary step-down care using spare recovery and rehabilitation ward capacity.
Stated by Devon Partnership NHS TrustStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 5 March 2017.
Action
Develop further alternatives to acute admission, including improved community support and additional step-down provision.
Stated by Devon Partnership NHS TrustStated in progressThe respondent said that this action was in progress when they made their response on 5 March 2017.
Action
Establish a central Trust-wide bed-management team to proactively manage and secure beds.
Stated by Devon Partnership NHS TrustStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 5 March 2017.
Action
Secure temporary additional contracted out-of-area bed capacity.
Stated by Devon Partnership NHS TrustStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 5 March 2017.
Action
Work with DPT to identify solutions for additional step-down bed capacity in Exeter.
Stated by NHS Devon Integrated Care BoardStated in progressThe respondent said that this action was in progress when they made their response on 5 March 2017.
Respondent positions A position is what a respondent says about the concern when they do not describe a specific action.1
Position
Financial pressures and reduced staff availability constrain the Trust's ability to secure additional inpatient capacity.
Stated by Devon Partnership NHS TrustUnable to actThe respondent said that a constraint prevented them from taking the relevant action.
Manchester (North)
Concerns raised1
Lack of specialist inpatient provision for young adults with mental health problems
This report raised 3 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.
Cornwall and Isles of Scilly
Concerns raised1
Shortage of acute mental health beds requiring out-of-county placements
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
Eliminate clinically unnecessary out-of-area placements for adult acute mental health care by 2020/21.
Stated by Department of Health and Social CareStated plannedThe respondent said that this action was planned when they made their response on 19 February 2017.
Action
Implement comprehensive community-based mental health pathways so people receive care at the right time and place.
Stated by Department of Health and Social CareStated plannedThe respondent said that this action was planned when they made their response on 19 February 2017.
Action
Develop an evidence-based adult acute mental health treatment pathway and accompanying commissioning support tools with the NCCMH and stakeholder group.
Stated by NHS EnglandStated in progressThe respondent said that this action was in progress when they made their response on 19 February 2017.
Action
Ensure all areas have high-quality, 24/7 Crisis Resolution Home Treatment Teams by 2020/21, supported by national investment.
Stated by NHS EnglandStated plannedThe respondent said that this action was planned when they made their response on 19 February 2017.
Action
Monitor progress toward eliminating inappropriate non-specialist adult acute out-of-area placements and provide targeted support to local areas.
Stated by NHS EnglandStated in progressThe respondent said that this action was in progress when they made their response on 19 February 2017.
Respondent positions A position is what a respondent says about the concern when they do not describe a specific action.1
Position
Local clinical commissioning groups are responsible for commissioning acute mental health beds because they assess and meet local community 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 local psychiatric intensive care unit beds for female patients
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.2
Action
Engage potential provider organisations to resolve local female PICU capacity and placement options.
Stated by NHS Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland Integrated Care BoardStated in progressThe respondent said that this action was in progress when they made their response on 20 October 2016.
Action
Work with regional commissioning colleagues to provide a wider range of female PICU placement options.
Stated by NHS Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland Integrated Care BoardStated in progressThe respondent said that this action was in progress when they made their response on 20 October 2016.
Respondent positions A position is what a respondent says about the concern when they do not describe a specific action.4
Position
A local PICU service cannot currently be commissioned because demand, quality, cost and provider availability cannot all be met.
Stated by NHS Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland Integrated Care BoardUnable to actThe respondent said that a constraint prevented them from taking the relevant action.
Position
Direct provision of local female psychiatric intensive care beds is outside the Trust’s commissioning remit.
Stated by Leicestershire Partnership NHS TrustOutside remitThe respondent said that this matter was outside its role or authority.
Position
Commissioners are responsible for procuring a local medium- to long-term solution for female psychiatric intensive care placements.
Stated by Leicestershire Partnership NHS TrustRedirects responsibilityThe respondent said that another organisation was responsible for deciding or taking action.
Position
Local clinical commissioning groups are responsible for commissioning psychiatric intensive care beds because they assess and meet local community needs.
Stated by Department of Health and Social CareRedirects responsibilityThe respondent said that another organisation was responsible for deciding or taking action.
West Sussex
Concerns raised1
Shortage of acute mental health beds near young people's homes
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.
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
Develop comprehensive community-based mental health service pathways and standards to support treatment closer to home.
Stated by Department of Health and Social CareStated in progressThe respondent said that this action was in progress when they made their response on 3 October 2016.
Action
Invest £400 million to improve community crisis-care services.
Stated by Department of Health and Social CareStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 3 October 2016.
Exeter and Greater Devon
Concerns raised1
Unavailability of female psychiatric intensive care beds in Devon
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.2
Action
Lead an option appraisal with Peninsula commissioners and providers to identify the need for a Devon psychiatric intensive care unit.
Stated by NHS Devon Integrated Care BoardStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 7 September 2016.
Action
Review and agree a proposal for a 10-bed psychiatric intensive care unit on the Wonford Hospital site.
Stated by NHS Devon Integrated Care BoardStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 7 September 2016.
Respondent positions A position is what a respondent says about the concern when they do not describe a specific action.1
Position
Devon Partnership NHS Trust should develop the plan for designing, constructing and operating the local psychiatric intensive care unit.
Stated by NHS Devon Integrated Care BoardRedirects responsibilityThe respondent said that another organisation was responsible for deciding or taking action.
Avon
Concerns raised1
Insufficient availability of in-patient mental health beds when detention is required following a Mental Health Act Assessment
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.
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 acute mental health inpatient beds
This report raised 3 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
Set the expectation that beds must always be available for people who need them.
Stated by Department of Health and Social CareStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 25 July 2016.
Action
Review bed-management and community processes to enhance care for patients awaiting inpatient admission.
Stated by Birmingham and Solihull Mental Health NHS Foundation TrustStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 25 July 2016.
Action
Implement a standard enhanced-care pathway for patients awaiting beds, including updated assessments, care plans, daily reviews and crisis plans.
Stated by Birmingham and Solihull Mental Health NHS Foundation TrustStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 25 July 2016.
Action
Ensure all areas have evidence-based, high-quality 24/7 Crisis Resolution Home Treatment Teams providing intensive home treatment and acute-bed gatekeeping by 2020/21.
Stated by NHS EnglandStated plannedThe respondent said that this action was planned when they made their response on 25 July 2016.
Action
Develop evidence-based mental health treatment pathways and commissioning tools, including acute-care quality standards for inpatient and community services.
Stated by NHS EnglandStated in progressThe respondent said that this action was in progress when they made their response on 25 July 2016.
Respondent positions A position is what a respondent says about the concern when they do not describe a specific action.2
Position
Provision of acute mental health beds rests with the Trust and clinical commissioning groups.
Stated by Care Quality CommissionRedirects responsibilityThe respondent said that another organisation was responsible for deciding or taking action.
Position
Availability of acute mental health beds is a matter for local commissioners.
Stated by Department of Health and Social CareRedirects responsibilityThe respondent said that another organisation was responsible for deciding or taking action.
Cornwall and Isles of Scilly
Concerns raised1
Failure to ensure availability of psychiatric beds in Cornwall
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.
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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.
