Mental Health Discharges Putting Safety At Risk, report says

The safety of mental health patients is being put at risk when they leave inpatient services, leading to a continuous revolving door of care and discharge, England’s Health Ombudsman has warned.

The issues include families not being updated or informed about a patient’s discharge from hospital care, poor record keeping, lack of communication and joint working between the multiple teams caring for a patient and failings in assessing requests to leave hospital.

Discharge from mental health care: making it safe and patient-centred | Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman (PHSO)

Deaths in mental health inpatient settings – guidance updated

This guidance outlines how the Secretary of State directs the Health Services Safety Investigations Body to conduct investigations into the deaths of patients and/or potential mistreatment of patients during periods of inpatient care in mental health care settings, during transition to or from other health care services, or immediately following the discharge from such inpatient mental health care services.

Health Services Safety Investigations Body: Mental Health Investigations Directions 2024 – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

Supporting discharge from mental health, LD and autism settings

Guidance from the Department of Health and Social Care has set out how health and care systems should work together to support discharge from all mental health and learning disability and autism inpatient settings for children, young people and adults. It sets out best practice on: how NHS bodies and local authorities should work closely together to support the discharge process and ensure the right support in the community, and provides clarity in relation to responsibilities; and patient and carer involvement in discharge planning.

Discharge from mental health inpatient settings – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)