Declining Numbers Of Mental Health Beds In South Yorkshire
Areas like Doncaster have fewer mental health hospital beds than they did several years ago as there is more support in the community for vulnerable people.
The number of inpatient mental health beds available under the Rotherham, Doncaster, and South Humber NHS Foundation Trust has fallen since 2015, from 290 to 265 over the last five years.
While 290 beds were available under the trust in 2015 and 2016, this fell to 275 beds in 207 and 2019. It decreased yet again in 2019, to 265 beds.
The data comes from Rotherham, Doncaster, and South Humber NHS Foundation Trust following a Freedom Of Information request from media literacy charity The Student View, filed prior to the current coronavirus pandemic.
The trust declined to provide details on the average waiting time following an initial GP referral to specialist mental health services, citing costs.
A spokesperson for Rotherham Doncaster and South Humber NHS Foundation Trust (RDaSH) said: “We are a large mental health, learning disability, drug and alcohol and community health services trust which covers three areas, Rotherham, Doncaster and North Lincolnshire. We have reduced from 290 mental health beds to 265 over five years because, working with our commissioners, we have delivered two services in a different way putting in more support for patients at home so they can return to their family, friends and their community more quickly.”
If you are experiencing difficulties that you think may be related to your mental health, please seek help. Call NHS 111, or click here for support from The Samaritans, or here for support from Mind.