Recurring concern
Insufficient mental health service capacity for timely patient care
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Request correctionFirst reported 14 Aug 2013•Latest report 24 Oct 2025
What this concern includes
Includes failures of funding, staffing, recruitment, retention, service capacity or resource resilience that are explicitly tied to the ability of mental health services to provide timely and safe patient care, including psychiatric units, CAMHS, older-age psychiatric teams and comparable mental health services.
Not included
- Excludes generic workforce, funding or resource deficiencies without an explicit mental health service safety impact.
- Excludes delays or access failures in a specific mental health pathway when the wider service-capacity deficiency is not identified.
- Excludes non-mental-health services, including police, ambulance, epilepsy, maternity, social-care and general hospital capacity concerns.
- Excludes deficiencies in a separately named mental health system or pathway where that named concern provides the more specific supported boundary, unless the assertion also directly identifies inadequate overall mental health service capacity.
- Reports
- 40
- Individual concerns
- 48
- Date range
- 2013–2025
- Stated actions
- 87
Distinct published reports
A report can raise multiple concerns
First to latest report issue date
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.
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.
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Concerns raised1
Insufficient capacity and resources to meet mental health service demand
Responses linked to these concernsEach statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
No linked response statementsNo respondent-stated action or position is linked to these concerns in the published data.
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Concerns raised1
Lack of sufficient mental health staffing to keep wards staffed and fully operational
This report raised 2 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Responses linked to these concernsEach 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
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Action
Expand and diversify mental-health workforce roles, meeting the target for 19,000 new staff.
Stated by Department of Health and Social Care -
Action
Invest in growing the mental-health workforce toward NHS Mental Health Implementation Plan commitments.
Stated by Department of Health and Social Care -
Action
Publish and fund the Mental Health Recovery Action Plan to expand services, reduce waiting times and strengthen the NHS workforce.
Stated by Department of Health and Social Care
-
Action
Commission NHS England to develop a long-term NHS workforce plan addressing staffing requirements, supply gaps and retention.
Stated by Department of Health and Social Care
-
Concerns raised1
Insufficient local availability of mental health treatment
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 concernsEach 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
The site's planned decommissioning had no impact on patient care, communications or referral information because key staff remained in place.
Stated by Ministry of Defence
-
Concerns raised2
Failure to guarantee funding to properly resource CAMHS
Lack of available urgent mental health services for 16- and 17-year-olds
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 concernsEach 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.6
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Action
Complete and approve the business case for the CAMHS Home Intensive Treatment Team.
Stated by NHS South Yorkshire Integrated Care Board and Sheffield Children'S NHS Foundation Trust -
Action
Recruit nursing staff for the new CAMHS Home Intensive Treatment Team.
Stated by NHS South Yorkshire Integrated Care Board and Sheffield Children'S NHS Foundation Trust -
Action
Reconfigure the existing Sheffield Treatment and Recovery Service into a CAMHS Home Intensive Treatment Team for young people up to age 18.
Stated by NHS South Yorkshire Integrated Care Board and Sheffield Children'S NHS Foundation Trust
-
Action
Establish a Mental Health Liaison Team supporting 0–18-year-olds attending designated emergency departments, with out-of-hours cover.
Stated by NHS South Yorkshire Integrated Care Board and Sheffield Children'S NHS Foundation Trust -
Action
Implement the temporary care pathway change agreed with Sheffield Health and Social Care NHS Foundation Trust.
Stated by NHS South Yorkshire Integrated Care Board and Sheffield Children'S NHS Foundation Trust -
Action
Implement jointly approved policy arrangements providing out-of-hours emergency home treatment to eligible 16- and 17-year-olds requiring crisis intervention.
Stated by Sheffield Children'S NHS Foundation Trust and Sheffield Health Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust
-
Concerns raised1
Insufficient out-of-hours mental health/Crisis staffing
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 concernsEach 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
Fill staffing vacancies with bank and agency cover to provide a 24-hour site-based service.
Stated by Isle of Wight NHS Trust -
Action
Evaluate the most effective approach to providing safe 24-hour cover.
Stated by Isle of Wight NHS Trust -
Action
Prepare and secure approval for a business case developed with the CCG and local authority for a revised out-of-hours care model.
Stated by Isle of Wight NHS Trust
-
Concerns raised2
Excessive staff caseloads in mental health services
Chronic underfunding of mental health services
This report raised 2 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Responses linked to these concernsEach 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
Work with partners to address recruitment and retention challenges so services are appropriately resourced.
Stated by NHS Birmingham and Solihull Integrated Care Board -
Action
Incorporate learning-from-deaths and demand-and-capacity improvement plans into contracts as service-delivery improvement plans.
Stated by NHS Birmingham and Solihull Integrated Care Board -
Action
Commission independent system modelling to identify solutions and investment priorities for mental-health demand and capacity.
Stated by NHS Birmingham and Solihull Integrated Care Board
-
Action
Provide additional investment to expand commissioned mental-health service capacity and provision.
Stated by NHS Birmingham and Solihull Integrated Care Board
Respondent positions A position is what a respondent says about the concern when they do not describe a specific action.3
-
Position
The Clinical Commissioning Group will lead the shared demand analysis needed to assess demand, capacity and funding constraints.
Stated by NHS England
-
Position
Funding is not the sole cause of the identified failures, and the link between funding and the deaths cannot currently be validated.
Stated by NHS England -
Position
There is currently no evidence that insufficient funding contributed to the deaths.
Stated by NHS Birmingham and Solihull Integrated Care Board
-
Concerns raised1
Underfunding of mental health services
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 concernsEach 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
Work with partners to address recruitment and retention challenges so services are appropriately resourced.
Stated by NHS Birmingham and Solihull Integrated Care Board -
Action
Commission independent system modelling to identify solutions and investment priorities for mental-health demand and capacity.
Stated by NHS Birmingham and Solihull Integrated Care Board -
Action
Provide additional investment to expand commissioned mental-health service capacity and provision.
Stated by NHS Birmingham and Solihull Integrated Care Board
Respondent positions A position is what a respondent says about the concern when they do not describe a specific action.3
-
Position
Funding is not the sole cause of the identified failures, and the link between funding and the deaths cannot currently be validated.
Stated by NHS England
-
Position
The Clinical Commissioning Group will lead the shared demand analysis needed to assess demand, capacity and funding constraints.
Stated by NHS England -
Position
There is currently no evidence that insufficient funding contributed to the deaths.
Stated by NHS Birmingham and Solihull Integrated Care Board
-
Concerns raised1
Under-funding of mental health services
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 concernsEach 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
Work with partners to address recruitment and retention challenges so services are appropriately resourced.
Stated by NHS Birmingham and Solihull Integrated Care Board -
Action
Commission independent system modelling to identify solutions and investment priorities for mental-health demand and capacity.
Stated by NHS Birmingham and Solihull Integrated Care Board -
Action
Provide additional investment to expand commissioned mental-health service capacity and provision.
Stated by NHS Birmingham and Solihull Integrated Care Board
Respondent positions A position is what a respondent says about the concern when they do not describe a specific action.4
-
Position
Funding is not the sole cause of the identified failures, and the link between funding and the deaths cannot currently be validated.
Stated by NHS England
-
Position
The Clinical Commissioning Group will lead the shared demand analysis needed to assess demand, capacity and funding constraints.
Stated by NHS England -
Position
The Director of Public Health will lead the suicide prevention strategy addressing system-wide suicide prevention responsibilities.
Stated by NHS England -
Position
There is currently no evidence that insufficient funding contributed to the deaths.
Stated by NHS Birmingham and Solihull Integrated Care Board
-
Concerns raised1
Underfunding of mental health services
This report raised 2 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Responses linked to these concernsEach 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
Work with partners to address recruitment and retention challenges so services are appropriately resourced.
Stated by NHS Birmingham and Solihull Integrated Care Board -
Action
Commission independent system modelling to identify solutions and investment priorities for mental-health demand and capacity.
Stated by NHS Birmingham and Solihull Integrated Care Board -
Action
Provide additional investment to expand commissioned mental-health service capacity and provision.
Stated by NHS Birmingham and Solihull Integrated Care Board
Respondent positions A position is what a respondent says about the concern when they do not describe a specific action.3
-
Position
Funding is not the sole cause of the identified failures, and the link between funding and the deaths cannot currently be validated.
Stated by NHS England
-
Position
The Clinical Commissioning Group will lead the shared demand analysis needed to assess demand, capacity and funding constraints.
Stated by NHS England -
Position
There is currently no evidence that insufficient funding contributed to the deaths.
Stated by NHS Birmingham and Solihull Integrated Care Board
-
Concerns raised2
Under-funding of mental health services
Insufficient funding to maintain staff and resources under service demand
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 concernsEach 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
Commission independent system modelling to identify solutions and investment priorities for mental-health demand and capacity.
Stated by NHS Birmingham and Solihull Integrated Care Board -
Action
Provide additional investment to expand commissioned mental-health service capacity and provision.
Stated by NHS Birmingham and Solihull Integrated Care Board -
Action
Work with partners to address recruitment and retention challenges so services are appropriately resourced.
Stated by NHS Birmingham and Solihull Integrated Care Board
-
Action
Incorporate learning-from-deaths and demand-and-capacity improvement plans into contracts as service-delivery improvement plans.
Stated by NHS Birmingham and Solihull Integrated Care Board
Respondent positions A position is what a respondent says about the concern when they do not describe a specific action.3
-
Position
Funding is not the sole cause of the identified failures, and the link between funding and the deaths cannot currently be validated.
Stated by NHS England
-
Position
The Clinical Commissioning Group will lead the shared demand analysis needed to assess demand, capacity and funding constraints.
Stated by NHS England -
Position
There is currently no evidence that insufficient funding contributed to the deaths.
Stated by NHS Birmingham and Solihull Integrated Care Board
Data last updated 7 September 2026