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.
Norfolk
Concerns raised1
Shortage of inpatient mental health beds
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.4
Action
Invest almost £1 billion in expanded adult community mental health services by March 2024.
Stated by Department of Health and Social CareStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 3 April 2024.
Action
Make funding available to support adult social care and NHS discharges, including from mental health inpatient settings.
Stated by Department of Health and Social CareStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 3 April 2024.
Action
Develop and publish statutory guidance for discharge from mental health inpatient settings.
Stated by Department of Health and Social CareStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 3 April 2024.
Action
Improve patient flow and work towards eliminating inappropriate out-of-area mental health placements.
Stated by Department of Health and Social CareStated plannedThe respondent said that this action was planned when they made their response on 3 April 2024.
Surrey
Concerns raised1
Shortage of available inpatient psychiatric beds in Surrey
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.2
Action
Invest additional funding in mental health, community, crisis, acute and inpatient services to improve access and reduce pressure on beds.
Stated by NHS EnglandStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 21 March 2024.
Action
Improve patient flow and reduce out-of-area placements through community service improvements, shorter inpatient stays and reduced discharge delays.
Stated by NHS EnglandStated plannedThe respondent said that this action was planned when they made their response on 21 March 2024.
Suffolk
Concerns raised1
Insufficient bed capacity for informal mental health inpatient admissions
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
Invest more than £400 million to replace mental health dormitories with ensuite bedrooms, with more than 600 beds already replaced across 34 sites.
Stated by Department of Health and Social CareStated in progressThe respondent said that this action was in progress when they made their response on 14 March 2024.
Cornwall and Isles of Scilly
Concerns raised1
Insufficient mental health bed capacity
This report raised 8 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.
Respondent positions A position is what a respondent says about the concern when they do not describe a specific action.3
Position
The ICB considers its commissioned mental health bed capacity appropriate because it matches the national median per 100,000 population.
Stated by Department of Health and Social CareDisputes the concernThe respondent disagreed with part of the concern or the basis for it.
Position
The ICB relies on alternative solutions to mitigate the impact of closed mental health beds.
Stated by Department of Health and Social CareExisting arrangements considered sufficientThe respondent said that existing arrangements were sufficient, so no further action was needed.
Position
Closed acute and rehabilitation beds cannot be reinstated because of environmental issues being challenged through the provider’s contract.
Stated by Department of Health and Social CareUnable to actThe respondent said that a constraint prevented them from taking the relevant action.
Manchester South
Concerns raised1
Shortage of available mental health beds
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 raised2
Unsafe exceptional process for creating psychiatric bed capacity through discharge of current patients
Inadequate psychiatric bed capacity 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.10
Action
Work with local authorities to improve inpatient social-care support and enable faster, safer discharges.
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 29 November 2023.
Action
Operate a clinical oversight group with acute wards to support appropriate discharges and escalate delays caused by non-clinical issues.
Stated by Birmingham and Solihull Mental Health NHS Foundation TrustStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 29 November 2023.
Action
Expand funding for community mental health services nationwide to help manage pressure on inpatient beds.
Stated by Department of Health and Social CareStated in progressThe respondent said that this action was in progress when they made their response on 29 November 2023.
Action
Commission 20 additional mental health inpatient beds in the independent sector.
Stated by Birmingham and Solihull Integrated Care SystemStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 29 November 2023.
Action
Continue working with the Mental Health Provider Collaborative to commission more local independent-sector mental health provision.
Stated by Birmingham and Solihull Integrated Care SystemStated in progressThe respondent said that this action was in progress when they made their response on 29 November 2023.
Action
Work with BSMHFT to address Investment Committee actions so the additional inpatient bed-capacity business case can progress to full support.
Stated by Birmingham and Solihull Integrated Care SystemStated in progressThe respondent said that this action was in progress when they made their response on 29 November 2023.
Action
Commission and complete a 12-month consultancy project addressing local mental health bed shortages and out-of-area placements.
Stated by Birmingham and Solihull Mental Health NHS Foundation TrustStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 29 November 2023.
Action
Develop and lead a locality model linking local hospital beds with home treatment teams, community teams and local communities to prioritise admissions by clinical risk and need.
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 29 November 2023.
Action
Lead a business case to secure funding for new Highcroft acute capacity, with submissions scheduled for early spring 2024.
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 29 November 2023.
Action
Participate with the ICB in a steering group examining additional contracted beds closer to Birmingham as an interim measure.
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 29 November 2023.
Respondent positions A position is what a respondent says about the concern when they do not describe a specific action.3
Position
NHS capital constraints may prevent delivery of the proposed additional mental health inpatient bed capacity.
Stated by Birmingham and Solihull Integrated Care SystemUnable to actThe respondent said that a constraint prevented them from taking the relevant action.
Position
Addressing mental health bed availability relies substantially on system partners, so the Trust cannot resolve the issue alone.
Stated by Birmingham and Solihull Mental Health NHS Foundation TrustRedirects responsibilityThe respondent said that another organisation was responsible for deciding or taking action.
Position
The Trust can develop capacity and pathways only within the resources, scope and abilities available to it.
Stated by Birmingham and Solihull Mental Health NHS Foundation TrustUnable to actThe respondent said that a constraint prevented them from taking the relevant action.
Suffolk
Concerns raised1
Insufficient national availability of Tier 4 paediatric mental health beds for timely allocation
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
Introduce NHS-led Provider Collaboratives to bring children’s and young people’s inpatient care closer to home.
Stated by NHS EnglandStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 22 November 2023.
Action
Invest capital and revenue funding in localised Tier 4 inpatient and alternative-to-inpatient provision over three years.
Stated by NHS EnglandStated in progressThe respondent said that this action was in progress when they made their response on 22 November 2023.
Action
Issue planning guidance requiring Lead Provider Collaboratives and Integrated Care Systems to provide adolescent and psychiatric intensive care units for local needs.
Stated by NHS EnglandStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 22 November 2023.
Action
Commission a review of the children’s and young people’s inpatient model addressing pathway pressures, quality, safety and future care requirements.
Stated by NHS EnglandStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 22 November 2023.
Respondent positions A position is what a respondent says about the concern when they do not describe a specific action.2
Position
NHS England is responsible for considering concerns about Tier 4 bed availability and setting out responsive actions.
Stated by Department of Health and Social CareRedirects responsibilityThe respondent said that another organisation was responsible for deciding or taking action.
Position
Lead Provider Collaboratives and Integrated Care Systems are responsible for ensuring local provision of required adolescent psychiatric inpatient services.
Stated by NHS EnglandRedirects responsibilityThe respondent said that another organisation was responsible for deciding or taking action.
Birmingham and Solihull
Concerns raised1
Unavailability of mental health inpatient beds
This report raised 8 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.3
Action
Establish and operate the Mental Health, Learning Disability and Autism Inpatient Quality Transformation Programme.
Stated by NHS EnglandStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 18 July 2023.
Action
Invest at least £2.3 billion annually by March 2024 to expand and transform mental health services.
Stated by Department of Health and Social CareStated in progressThe respondent said that this action was in progress when they made their response on 18 July 2023.
Action
Provide increased national mental health funding, including a record £15.9 billion investment in 2022/23.
Stated by Department of Health and Social CareStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 18 July 2023.
Respondent positions A position is what a respondent says about the concern when they do not describe a specific action.2
Position
Many concerns, particularly those relating to the mental health trust, fall outside the respondent’s remit.
Stated by NHS EnglandOutside remitThe respondent said that this matter was outside its role or authority.
Position
Relevant trusts are responsible for staffing and operating mental health services.
Stated by Department of Health and Social CareRedirects responsibilityThe respondent said that another organisation was responsible for deciding or taking action.
Liverpool and the Wirral
Concerns raised1
Lack of acute psychiatric beds for immediate inpatient assessment, treatment and care
Responses linked to these concerns
Each statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
Respondent positions A position is what a respondent says about the concern when they do not describe a specific action.1
Position
NHS England and the Integrated Care Board are responsible for addressing acute psychiatric bed availability and related care quality concerns.
Stated by Department of Health and Social CareRedirects responsibilityThe respondent said that another organisation was responsible for deciding or taking action.
West Yorkshire (Western)
Concerns raised1
Delays in completing Mental Health Act detention when no bed is available overnight
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.
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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.
