Recurring concern
Unreliable access to physical health specialist input for mental health inpatients
- Reports that mention this concern
- 7
- Times this concern has been raised
- 8
- Stated actions linked to this concern
- 5
What this concern includes
Includes failures of the dedicated arrangements for obtaining physical health specialist advice or input for mental health inpatients, including access barriers, unavailable specialist support and requirements to transfer patients to emergency departments solely to obtain that input.
What is not included
- Excludes deficiencies in general clinical advice that are not specifically tied to physical health specialist input for mental health inpatients.
- Excludes shortages or unavailability of inpatient mental health beds, psychological services or other services unrelated to physical health specialist input.
- Excludes generic staffing, training, communication or documentation deficiencies unless they directly concern the dedicated provision of physical health specialist input for mental health inpatients.
Trends
Reports over time
Reports mentioning this concern, 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.
Reports and published responses 7 reports
See individual reports that have raised this concern, and the actions taken in response
-
Concerns raised1
Lack of appropriately qualified dietitian provision for inpatients undergoing psychiatric care
Linked responses
- Department of Health and Social Care
- NHS England
Stated actions An action is something a respondent says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to the concern raised.2
-
NHS England
Develop safer staffing standards for Allied Health Professionals, including principles applicable to mental health services.
-
NHS England
Continue supporting multidisciplinary and integrated approaches to care through published specifications and guidance.
Respondent positions A position is what a respondent says about the concern when they do not describe a specific action.3
-
NHS England
ICBs are responsible for commissioning appropriate nutritional care for psychiatric inpatients and should answer enquiries about local provision.
-
NHS England
Providers and commissioners determine workforce models and local arrangements for dietetic provision.
-
Department of Health and Social Care
Individual NHS Trusts and employers determine staffing levels and workforce composition to meet patients’ needs safely.
-
Concerns raised1
Barriers to obtaining physical health specialist input for mental health ward patients
This report raised 3 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Linked response
- Department of Health and Social Care
Respondent positions A position is what a respondent says about the concern when they do not describe a specific action.1
-
Department of Health and Social Care
Issues concerning Pennine Care NHS Foundation Trust should be addressed in the Trust’s response.
-
Concerns raised1
Unavailability of appropriate specialist advice for a psychiatric inpatient with a serious physical health condition
This report raised 9 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Linked response
- Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust
Stated actions An action is something a respondent says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to the concern raised.1
-
Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust
Make diabetes care a principal Trust quality-improvement project, led by the physical-health care group and supported by primary-care connections.
-
Concerns raised1
Lack of active input from outside consultants into mental health unit patient care
This report raised 8 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
No linked response statementsNo respondent-stated action or position is linked to these concerns in the published data.
-
Concerns raised1
Failure to provide domiciliary consultant physician visits to mental health wards
This report raised 4 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Linked response
- South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust
Stated actions An action is something a respondent says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to the concern raised.2
-
South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust
Submit and revise a bid with Kings College Hospital for a Medical Liaison Team providing medical-management advice to inpatients.
-
South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust
Lobby for resources to establish an inpatient medical liaison service.
Respondent positions A position is what a respondent says about the concern when they do not describe a specific action.1
-
South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust
A medical liaison service could not be established because the funding bid was rejected; resource lobbying will continue.
-
Concerns raised2
Lack of consultant physician input into management of in-patients with physical health problems
Unavailability of timely medical opinions for non-emergency physical illness
This report raised 2 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
No linked response statementsNo respondent-stated action or position is linked to these concerns in the published data.
-
Concerns raised1
Unavailability of timely physician assessment for acutely ill psychiatric-facility patients
This report raised 4 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
No linked response statementsNo respondent-stated action or position is linked to these concerns in the published data.
Actions and positions describe what organisations say in published responses. Implementation is not independently verified.
Data last updated 7 September 2026