Mental health care facing beds crisis

London is facing a crisis in mental health care, new figures show today.

The Evening Standard has discovered a big decline in the number of NHS beds available for the mentally ill.

The revelations come amid concern about the Government's mental health policy draft law, which would give psychiatrists the power to detain patients deemed a danger to themselves or others.

Some care-in-the-community patients would be forced to attend clinics for treatment. Those who dropped out would be taken back into secure hospitals. But there is still a need for beds in hospital, mostly for short-term admissions.

The number of available beds in London have fallen by 12 per cent since Labour came to power, the figures show. From 7,186 in 1997, there were 6,321 in 2002-3, a drop of 865.

Opposition MPs and mental health groups are critical. Liberal Democrat MP Simon Hughes said: "However good care in the community may be, there's still a great need for more beds and more places for short-term admissions, respite care and out-of-hours support." Concern about London's mental health system has escalated following a series of attacks, some fatal, allegedly by released mental patients. Nationally, from 2001 to last year, the community mental health team caseload grew by nearly 60,000 to 310,000.

A spokesman for mental health charity Mind said: "The most appropriate setting for crisis care is hospital." But a Department of Health spokesman said the fall in beds had been offset by alternative forms of support. "The NHS is at the forefront of new mental health services, providing the right treatment tailored to the patient's best interests."