The Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust (SPNHSFT) has reported a significant increase in calls to its mental health crisis line, with numbers reaching 17,000 in September 2023, up from 7,500 in September 2022. The rising demand has led to more people presenting at A&E with mental health conditions. SPNHSFT has acknowledged the challenges posed by this surge in crisis calls and is collaborating with emergency and voluntary services to enhance crisis support.
The increase in demand for mental health services has also had a notable impact on access to inpatient beds. The number of days patients wait for a mental health bed has risen from two to seven days since December 2021.
This growing issue not only affects patients but also strains resources in A&E departments, diverting time and resources from patients with clinical needs. The lack of available mental health inpatient beds is a significant challenge, and healthcare providers are actively seeking solutions to alleviate the situation.
