Analysis of complaints about care reveals ‘devastating toll’ of suffering and avoidable deaths
“Vulnerable mental health patients are suffering serious harm, and in some cases dying, because of “serious failings” in their treatment, the NHS ombudsman has warned.
The report identifies five “common failings” by mental health trusts that can lead to patients suffering distress or harm or dying avoidably. They include inadequate assessment of the patient’s risk of suffering harm or committing suicide and poor communication between health professionals and the patient or their family. Other complaints include – not diagnosing a life-threatening reaction, called neuroleptic malignant syndrome (NMS) which lead to the death of one patient.
In this report analysing more than 200 complaints about NHS mental health care Behrens highlighted “failings that have occurred, and continue to occur, in specialist mental health services in England, and the devastating toll this takes on patients and their families” more
Although appreciate there should be good care for the elderly – politicians are missing (or overlooking) the fact – that many patients receiving inadequate mental health care from the NHS – may never reach this category.
“The ombudsman upheld 65% of the 14,106 complaints made against NHS mental health trusts in 2016-17, higher than the 61% of complaints he received against acute (physical) health trusts.”
Mental Health Services should not be the Cinderella of the NHS. Funds which are designated for Mental Health Services in NHS Trusts – should not be diverted to other areas to massage figures.
There is a report on The Times website but in 2025 one you have to pay to read and is found by searching on the Article title – Patients abused and dying in NHS Mental Health Services
sunnypolarbear 