First reported 11 May 2015•Latest report 5 Sep 2025
Definition
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.
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.
Reports
6
Distinct published reports
Individual concerns
7
A report can raise multiple concerns
Date range
2015–2025
First to latest report issue date
Stated actions
12
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 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
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.
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.
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 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.
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
Maintain a ratified Private Providers Shared Care Policy defining Trust and private-provider roles and responsibilities.
Stated by South West London and St George'S Mental Health NHS TrustStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 31 July 2024.
Action
Make the Private Providers Shared Care Policy accessible on the Trust website and communicate its existence internally and through local GP networks.
Stated by South West London and St George'S Mental Health NHS TrustStated plannedThe respondent said that this action was planned when they made their response on 31 July 2024.
Action
Improve and publish prominent website information directing healthcare professionals to urgent mental-health crisis referrals, including the 24/7 crisis line.
Stated by South West London and St George'S Mental Health NHS TrustStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 31 July 2024.
Action
Share crisis-referral information externally through social media, website news articles, and campaign materials.
Stated by South West London and St George'S Mental Health NHS TrustStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 31 July 2024.
Action
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.
Stated by South West London and St George'S Mental Health NHS TrustStated plannedThe respondent said that this action was planned when they made their response on 31 July 2024.
Action
Review the interface between NHS and non-NHS-funded independent health providers.
Stated by NHS EnglandStated in progressThe respondent said that this action was in progress when they made their response on 31 July 2024.
Action
Expand urgent and emergency mental health care and access to crisis services.
Stated by NHS EnglandStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 31 July 2024.
Respondent positions A position is what a respondent says about the concern when they do not describe a specific action.4
Position
No national or local system provides contact details for every private provider, so referral information cannot feasibly reach all providers.
Stated by South West London and St George'S Mental Health NHS TrustUnable to actThe respondent said that a constraint prevented them from taking the relevant action.
Position
Private providers can refer patients directly to crisis services through the Mental Health Crisis Line, 111, 999 or A&E.
Stated by South West London and St George'S Mental Health NHS TrustDisputes the concernThe respondent disagreed with part of the concern or the basis for it.
Position
The relevant NHS mental health trust is responsible for providing further information about its emergency referral signposting for private providers.
Stated by NHS EnglandRedirects responsibilityThe respondent said that another organisation was responsible for deciding or taking action.
Position
National review of psychiatric referral pathways is considered a matter for the Department of Health and NHS England.
Stated by South West London and St George'S Mental Health NHS TrustRedirects 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.
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
Consider clarifying statutory discharge guidance so commissioners and providers understand its application to independent mental health services.
Stated by Department of Health and Social CareStated plannedThe respondent said that this action was planned when they made their response on 12 August 2024.
Action
Maintain an out-of-area placement team to bridge private hospitals and local NHS mental health services.
Stated by NHS Greater Manchester Integrated Care BoardStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 12 August 2024.
Action
Raise the case during quality assurance visits to providers, highlighting NHS referral access for privately funded patients and robust discharge planning.
Stated by NHS Greater Manchester Integrated Care BoardStated plannedThe respondent said that this action was planned when they made their response on 12 August 2024.
Action
Implement a standard operating procedure clarifying aftercare pathways, including 72-hour follow-up and consideration of NHS referrals regardless of funding arrangements.
Stated by Priory GroupStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 12 August 2024.
Respondent positions A position is what a respondent says about the concern when they do not describe a specific action.3
Position
The Greater Manchester Integrated Care Board is expected to explain how NHS discharge arrangements operate locally.
Stated by Department of Health and Social CareRedirects responsibilityThe respondent said that another organisation was responsible for deciding or taking action.
Position
Private mental health inpatients may access NHS services after discharge in most cases, rather than having an unrestricted entitlement.
Stated by Priory GroupDisputes the concernThe respondent disagreed with part of the concern or the basis for it.
Position
NHS referral may be unachievable where criteria are unmet, consent is absent, the team refuses, or initial contact remains unconfirmed.
Stated by Priory GroupUnable 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.
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
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.
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
Implement a staff protocol for coordinating NHS care with private psychiatric treatment and explaining the process to patients.
Stated by Central and North West London NHS Foundation TrustStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 2 June 2019.
Berkshire
Concerns raised1
Failure to obtain relevant history and treatment input from private clinicians
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 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.
