Unreliable NHS-private mental-health discharge and referral arrangements
First to latest report 11 May 2015 — 5 Sep 2025
Reports that mention this concern
6
Times this concern has been raised
7
Stated actions linked to this concern
12
What this concern includes
Includes failures in NHS-private mental-health arrangements for determining referral eligibility, maintaining responsibility, coordinating discharge, sharing relevant information and preserving community or continuing care when patients receive private psychiatric care or move between NHS and private providers.
What is not included
Excludes general NHS or private mental-health service capacity, treatment quality or appointment-access failures where the NHS-private discharge or referral interface is not the unsafe condition.
Excludes ordinary hospital discharge or mental-health discharge failures without a material transition between NHS and private psychiatric care.
Excludes generic inter-provider communication or care-coordination failures where no NHS-private mental-health discharge or referral context is identified.
Excludes failures occurring after responsibility and continuing-care arrangements have been clearly established and the remaining issue is the quality of treatment.
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.
Department of Health and Social Care3
NHS England2
Berkshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust1
Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust1
Cheshire and Wirral Partnership NHS Foundation Trust1
Department for Education1
Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust1
Health and Safety Executive1
NHS Greater Manchester Integrated Care Board1
Priory Group1
South West London and St George'S Mental Health NHS Trust1
Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Foundation Trust1
NHS trust5
Ministerial department3
Executive non-departmental public body2
Independent healthcare provider1
Integrated care board1
Workplace safety regulator1
Reports and published responses 6 reports
See individual reports that have raised this concern, and the actions taken in response
North Yorkshire and York
Concerns raised1
Failure to explain the rationale, provision and NHS alternatives for a private psychotherapy referral
This report raised 4 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
No linked response statements
No respondent-stated action or position is linked to these concerns in the published data.
Inner West London
Concerns raised2
Lack of clarity in referral and crisis-support processes for patients receiving private and NHS treatment
Unclear urgent and crisis referral pathways from private practitioners to NHS services
This report raised 4 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Linked responses
NHS England
South West London and St George'S Mental Health NHS 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.7
South West London and St George'S Mental Health NHS Trust
Maintain a ratified Private Providers Shared Care Policy defining Trust and private-provider roles and responsibilities.
South West London and St George'S Mental Health NHS Trust
Make the Private Providers Shared Care Policy accessible on the Trust website and communicate its existence internally and through local GP networks.
South West London and St George'S Mental Health NHS Trust
Improve and publish prominent website information directing healthcare professionals to urgent mental-health crisis referrals, including the 24/7 crisis line.
South West London and St George'S Mental Health NHS Trust
Share crisis-referral information externally through social media, website news articles, and campaign materials.
South West London and St George'S Mental Health NHS Trust
Remind staff about the Urgent Care Pathway, checking private treatment and consent, and the Private Providers Shared Care Policy through a Monthly Learning Bulletin and local GP networks.
NHS England
Review the interface between NHS and non-NHS-funded independent health providers.
NHS England
Expand urgent and emergency mental health care and access to crisis services.
Respondent positions A position is what a respondent says about the concern when they do not describe a specific action.4
South West London and St George'S Mental Health NHS Trust
No national or local system provides contact details for every private provider, so referral information cannot feasibly reach all providers.
Unable to actThe respondent said that a constraint prevented them from taking the relevant action.
South West London and St George'S Mental Health NHS Trust
Private providers can refer patients directly to crisis services through the Mental Health Crisis Line, 111, 999 or A&E.
Disputes the concernThe respondent disagreed with part of the concern or the basis for it.
NHS England
The relevant NHS mental health trust is responsible for providing further information about its emergency referral signposting for private providers.
Redirects responsibilityThe respondent said that another organisation was responsible for deciding or taking action.
South West London and St George'S Mental Health NHS Trust
National review of psychiatric referral pathways is considered a matter for the Department of Health and NHS England.
Redirects responsibilityThe respondent said that another organisation was responsible for deciding or taking action.
Manchester North
Concerns raised1
Unclear eligibility for NHS discharge service referral for private paying inpatients
This report raised 1 other concern. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Linked responses
Department of Health and Social Care
NHS Greater Manchester Integrated Care Board
Priory Group
Stated actions An action is something a respondent says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to the concern raised.4
Department of Health and Social Care
Consider clarifying statutory discharge guidance so commissioners and providers understand its application to independent mental health services.
NHS Greater Manchester Integrated Care Board
Maintain an out-of-area placement team to bridge private hospitals and local NHS mental health services.
NHS Greater Manchester Integrated Care Board
Raise the case during quality assurance visits to providers, highlighting NHS referral access for privately funded patients and robust discharge planning.
Priory Group
Implement a standard operating procedure clarifying aftercare pathways, including 72-hour follow-up and consideration of NHS referrals regardless of funding arrangements.
Respondent positions A position is what a respondent says about the concern when they do not describe a specific action.3
Department of Health and Social Care
The Greater Manchester Integrated Care Board is expected to explain how NHS discharge arrangements operate locally.
Redirects responsibilityThe respondent said that another organisation was responsible for deciding or taking action.
Priory Group
Private mental health inpatients may access NHS services after discharge in most cases, rather than having an unrestricted entitlement.
Disputes the concernThe respondent disagreed with part of the concern or the basis for it.
Priory Group
NHS referral may be unachievable where criteria are unmet, consent is absent, the team refuses, or initial contact remains unconfirmed.
Unable to actThe respondent said that a constraint prevented them from taking the relevant action.
Manchester South
Concerns raised1
Failure of mental health trusts to communicate placement information with private providers and families
This report raised 10 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring 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
Discharge of NHS patients seeking private psychiatric care
This report raised 4 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Linked response
Central and North West London 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
Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust
Implement a staff protocol for coordinating NHS care with private psychiatric treatment and explaining the process to patients.
Berkshire
Concerns raised1
Failure to obtain relevant history and treatment input from private clinicians
No linked response statements
No 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.
Actions and positions describe what organisations say in published responses. Implementation is not independently verified.