Norman Lamb and Warwickshire Liberal Democrats back Mind's call for 48 hour follow ups for people leaving mental health hospital
Figures released by Mind, the mental health charity, show that 11,000 people across the country did not get follow-up within a week of leaving a mental health hospital in 2015-16. Mind has called for urgent new guidelines so those leaving are followed up with within 48 hours.
Responding to the figures, Liberal Democrat Shadow Health Secretary Norman Lamb said:
"The moral case for this proposal is overwhelming. When we know that the risk of loss of life through suicide doubles if there is no timely follow up, the Government and NHS England have an absolute duty to act. But this requires investment in community support which is so often lacking.
"We must invest more in mental health overall and also shift resources from containing people in institutions to investing in prevention and good crisis support in the community."
Councillor Jerry Roodhouse added:
"Concerns about mental health are issues that we are hearing more about from residents on the door step so it's vital that people get the treatment and follow up action they need.
"Liberal Democrats across Warwickshire support Norman and Mind's call for 48 hour follow ups for people leaving mental health hospital. We urge the Government to listen so patients across the county can benefit."
http://www.mind.org.uk/news-campaigns/campaigns/crisis-care/