Mental health access for alcohol addiction
Significant barriers to timely mental health support for patients with alcohol addiction due to service and awareness gaps.
800 items
13 sources
2 inquiries
Strongest theme matches
Mixed across source types and ranked by classifier confidence plus text match strength.
Committee recommendation
100match
#18 - Muslim women in frontline services endure anti-Muslim abuse and face mental health barriers.
It is deeply saddening that Muslim women working in frontline services such as healthcare settings are having to endure anti-Muslim abuse while performing their duties in helping others. Reports of a lack of support from colleagues and employers are also troubling. Anti-Muslim discrimination, harassment and abuse can have lasting mental health impacts. Yet Muslims can face barriers in...
Matched on
terms: acces, health, mental
Committee recommendation
100match
#1 - Severity gap reveals unacceptable failing in timely access to mental health care
Timely access to mental health care is not just a matter of convenience— it is a matter of safety, dignity, and equity. Delays in care can lead to preventable crises, greater distress, poorer outcomes, and higher costs to the system. The severity gap, where people fall between high and low intensity services, reflects an unacceptable failing of the...
Matched on
terms: acces, health, mental
Committee recommendation
98match
#13 - Rural communities face inaccessible NHS mental health services due to centralisation, transport, and connectivity
We conclude that NHS mental health services are often not fairly accessible for rural communities, with centralised services creating barriers to access, compounded by poor rural transport and weak digital connectivity.
Matched on
terms: acces, health, mental
Committee recommendation
97match
#4 - Address barriers to alcohol treatment access and improve integrated care for co-occurring conditions
We are concerned that a high proportion of people with alcohol dependency are not in treatment and that there are unnecessary barriers to people in need of treatment. Treatment services for alcohol dependency are commissioned by local authorities. They show success rates of around 60% and they deliver an estimated £3 benefit immediately for every £1 invested, and...
Matched on
terms: acces, alcohol, health, mental
Committee recommendation
94match
#18 - Co-occurring mental health and alcohol problems frequently result in denial of vital treatment.
Dame Carol, Sir Ian, Ms Taylor and Ms Wiseman all raised concerns about the relationship between mental ill health and alcohol. Sir Ian told us that an estimated 70% of people entering treatment for alcohol dependency have co-occurring mental health problems.42 The relationship between substance misuse and mental ill health is well- established yet, as Dame Carol pointed...
Matched on
terms: acces, alcohol, health, mental
PFD report
93match
Emma Timbrell
Patients with suicidal ideation were given a non-free out-of-hours crisis number, creating a financial barrier to accessing urgent mental health support for those with limited means.
Matched on
terms: acces, health, mental
Committee recommendation
93match
#15 - Low public awareness and poor NHS identification hinder access to effective alcohol treatment.
When we asked Ms Wiseman what was preventing people from accessing treatment, she explained that there was a big issue with people being able to accept that they have a problem in the first place. We heard that drinking alcohol in our communities is widespread and public awareness of the associated harms very low. Ms Wiseman told us...
Matched on
terms: acces, alcohol, health
Committee recommendation
90match
#19 - A lack of in-patient and residential alcohol treatment creates significant access barriers.
Sir Ian and Ms Wiseman spoke of the cost effectiveness of in-patient and residential treatment services. We heard examples of how the lack of in-patient and residential services in some areas of the country meant patients were left either bouncing between community treatment services or having to travel long distances. Ms Wiseman told us that some areas run...
Matched on
terms: acces, alcohol
Committee recommendation
89match
#18 - Consult on proposals to expand preventative mental health support for rural children and young people.
Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) have been under intense pressure for many years, but a lack of alternative rural social infrastructure and a fall in support for youth services means CAMHS is often the “only show in town”. However, focussing on providing ‘reactive’ mental health services will only go so far, especially given CAMHS waiting times,...
Matched on
terms: acces, health, mental
Committee recommendation
89match
#14 - Improve rural mental health service access through mobile provision, community involvement, and stigma reduction
Locally the NHS must focus on providing rural communities with good access to services in terms of location and/or via mobile or outreach services, through effective consultation and co-design, and bring the voluntary and community sector into the delivery landscape given its expertise in early intervention as trusted providers. It should put effort into reducing the stigma of...
Matched on
terms: acces, health, mental
Committee recommendation
85match
#19 - Identify farming and veterinary mental health as priorities and develop specific NHS staff training.
It is very important for the farming and veterinary communities to feel that their circumstances are understood by NHS staff when seeking to access, or receiving, support (otherwise this may work against help-seeking behaviours). Charities with specialist-knowledge can gain people’s trust from a position of credibility, so it makes sense to engage them to boost NHS staff understanding...
Matched on
terms: acces, health, mental
Committee recommendation
82match
#20 - Ensure refreshed Women's Health Strategy addresses poor outcomes for Muslim women's healthcare.
Tackling disparities in women’s healthcare is a key focus of the Women’s Health Strategy. The Government is due to refresh the strategy in the coming months. The Government should ensure that addressing poor outcomes faced by Muslim women, including in the provision of mental health support and pain relief for women, is included in that work. (Recommendation, Paragraph...
Matched on
terms: health, mental
Committee recommendation
82match
#29 - Embed specialist practical and mental health support for families of drug users.
We recommend that local authorities use the funding allocated under the 10-Year Drugs Strategy to embed specialist practical and mental health support within drug treatment and support services for the families and the loved ones of people who use, or used, drugs.
Matched on
terms: health, mental
PFD report
81match
David Chatburn
The GP failed to refer the patient to psychiatric services, inappropriately managed medication, and had poor record-keeping. Systemic issues included bureaucratic barriers to mental health referrals and non-medical triage.
Matched on
terms: health, mental
PFD report
81match
Colin Williams
A client with complex health and social needs, exacerbated by alcoholism, experienced "agency blindness" and lacked consistent support due to fragmented services, funding changes, and administrative difficulties.
Matched on
terms: alcohol, health
PFD report
81match
Philip Denning
Fragmented services for patients with co-occurring substance misuse and mental health issues, a lack of information sharing, and primary care's misunderstanding of available help pose significant risks.
Matched on
terms: health, mental
Committee recommendation
81match
#17 - Health services are failing to adequately identify and refer alcohol-dependent individuals for treatment.
Most people entering treatment for alcohol dependency in England self-refer. In 2021– 22, only 23% of referrals were from health services.40 Our expert witnesses thought much more could be done to identify people early and direct them towards treatment. Ms Taylor 30 Qq 11, 65 31 Qq 64, 86 32 C&AG’s Report, paras 3.8–3.9, Figure 14 33 Q...
Matched on
terms: alcohol, health
PPO recommendation
81match
The Head of Healthcare
The Head of Healthcare should ensure that those who are on a waiting list for therapy have access to mental health support in the interim if there is a risk of suicide and self-harm.
Matched on
terms: acces, health, mental
IMB annual report
80match
Swansea (2022)
HMP Swansea is generally considered a safe and humane prison by the Board, with notable improvements in education, purposeful activity, and resettlement support. However, significant concerns persist regarding the inadequate mental health provision and the challenge of securing accommodation for prisoners on release. Other key issues include delays in cell refurbishment, poor disability access, and inconsistent reporting of...
Matched on
terms: acces, health, mental
IMB annual report
80match
Foston Hall (2023)
HMP/YOI Foston Hall has shown positive developments in regime provision and some safety initiatives, yet it continues to grapple with persistently high self-harm rates and increased use of force. Staffing shortages have impacted key work and overall experience levels, while healthcare faces challenges with recruitment, missed appointments, and inadequate facilities. The Board highlights significant concerns regarding accommodation decency,...
Matched on
terms: acces, health, mental
IMB annual report
80match
Gartree (2023)
HMP Gartree maintains a calm and ordered environment with positive staff-prisoner relationships, though faces significant challenges with its ageing infrastructure and an increase in use of force incidents. While basic healthcare access is good, mental health services and purposeful activity require improvement. The Board highlights key concerns regarding building repairs, drug infiltration, fire safety, and adequate provision for...
Matched on
terms: acces, health, mental
Committee recommendation
80match
#15 - Open up NHS access for rural veterinary community, supporting flexible appointments and appropriate digital provision.
The NHS also needs to open-up access to the rural veterinary community to reflect restrictions on their ability to attend appointments, and support people who need to Rural Mental Health 79 continue practising. Better digital provision could improve service access but must not be the default offer to rural communities, as it is not always appropriate or suitable.
Matched on
terms: acces, health, mental
PFD report
77match
Robert Day
Frontline emergency services lack national guidance for managing complex, time-critical mental health crises where existing legal powers may be insufficient or unclear, risking patient lives.
Matched on
terms: health, mental
PFD report
77match
Philip Dean
Mental health services were underfunded and under-resourced, leading to fragmented care, inadequate recording of critical information, and delayed professional assessments for severely unwell patients.
Matched on
terms: health, mental
PFD report
77match
Samarjit Singh
The lack of a Specialist Community Perinatal Mental Health Service and a Mother and Baby in-patient unit in the region resulted in sub-optimal treatment and declined referrals for mothers with severe postnatal depression.
Matched on
terms: health, mental
PFD report
77match
Graham Darby
A crucial communication breakdown occurred as a patient's explicit suicide threat regarding eviction was not adequately flagged to the housing provider by mental health services. This prevented the housing provider from taking appropriate preventative actions.
Matched on
terms: health, mental
PFD report
77match
Christopher Ajayi
A vulnerable patient with complex mental and physical health needs was discharged into unsupported accommodation without a care package or necessary medical oversight, highlighting severe failures in discharge planning and care coordination.
Matched on
terms: health, mental
PFD report
77match
Andrew Farrow
A patient with suicidal ideation who requested admission could not be accommodated due to a lack of available beds at the mental health hospital.
Matched on
terms: health, mental
PFD report
77match
Rohan Fitzsimons
Insufficient inpatient mental health beds, influenced by funding, led to significant delays in Mental Health Act assessments, posing a risk of individuals taking their own lives while awaiting necessary detention.
Matched on
terms: health, mental
PFD report
77match
Grant Burns
There was a significant lack of cooperative working and communication between mental health and substance misuse services, which impeded a complete root cause analysis.
Matched on
terms: health, mental
PFD report
77match
Melvin James
The hospital discharged a patient without adequate mental health assessment, failing to communicate with family about ongoing delusions or provide formal referral and aftercare to local mental health services.
Matched on
terms: health, mental
IMB annual report
76match
Gatwick IRC (2021)
The 2021 report covers the first year of the combined Gatwick IRC (Brook House and Tinsley House) under merged IMB oversight and Serco management, with the year dominated by Covid-19 restrictions, unprecedented Channel crossing arrivals through Tinsley House, and ongoing Home Office case management failures leading to prolonged and often unnecessary detention. While Serco staff generally treated detained...
Matched on
terms: acces, health, mental
IMB annual report
76match
Lincoln (2023)
HMP Lincoln, a Category B prison, experienced a decrease in self-harm incidents and drug finds during the reporting period, alongside generally positive staff-prisoner relationships. However, significant concerns persist regarding the length and quality of maintenance work by Amey, and the inadequate access to specialist mental health facilities. Other key challenges include the impact of increasing operational capacity, difficulties...
Matched on
terms: acces, health, mental
IMB annual report
76match
Low Newton (2024)
The IMB finds HMP/YOI Low Newton a reasonably safe and clean environment with generally good staff-prisoner relationships. However, the Board is concerned about the increasing number of women with severe mental health issues being sent to prison, impacting self-harm and assault rates. Delays in accessing healthcare and mental health support, along with the negative effects of custodial transport...
Matched on
terms: acces, health, mental
IMB annual report
76match
New Hall (2024)
HMP/YOI New Hall, a closed category prison for women, held 365 residents against an operational capacity of 381. The Board noted positive developments in reception, staff-prisoner relationships, and the introduction of a drug recovery wing. However, significant concerns persist regarding the inadequate funding and suitability of the prison environment for women with complex mental health needs, leading to...
Matched on
terms: acces, health, mental
Committee recommendation
74match
#27 - Jobcentre environments often lack accessibility and welcome, undermining efforts to support claimants.
Jobcentres are not places that people want to go to. They are often run-down and lack basic facilities, including accessibility features. An intimidating security presence can create additional barriers for some. It will be important that when people walk through the door of the new service, it does not look and feel similar to now. Such an outcome...
Matched on
terms: acces
Committee recommendation
74match
#9 - Government fails to halve detentions of autistic people; numbers in mental health settings rise.
The Government has fallen short on its commitment to halve the number of people with a learning disability and autistic people inappropriately detained in mental health hospitals. Promises to bring forward a new Mental Health Bill to help address this concern have gone unmet. Meanwhile, the number of autistic people in mental health settings and exposed to the...
Matched on
terms: health, mental
PPO recommendation
74match
The Head of Healthcare and the Mental Health Team Manager
The Head of Healthcare and the Mental Health Team Manager should ensure that: • mental health referrals are actioned and recorded, and assessments take place with appropriate urgency. • ACCT procedures are not used to substitute urgent mental health assessments.
Matched on
terms: health, mental
PFD report
73match
Sol Hadhasseh
A mental health Trust's reliance on a delayed GP referral, rather than a direct Trust-to-Trust transfer, for a patient with complex needs highlighted a systemic flaw in patient transfer procedures between Trusts.
Matched on
terms: health, mental
PFD report
73match
Brian Dalrymple
The report identifies a lack of awareness among detention staff regarding indicators of mental health issues, a failure to act on recorded observations, inadequate medical visits to segregated detainees, and the absence of a comprehensive clinical record system.
Matched on
terms: health, mental
PFD report
73match
Anthony Huggan
The lack of a suitable out-of-hours service for drug addiction placed an undue burden on emergency services, with insufficient timely follow-up for patients who self-discharged after overdoses.
Matched on
terms: addiction
PFD report
73match
John Ioannou
There is a lack of clear guidance for General Practitioners when patients fail to collect essential mental health medication, potentially compromising treatment continuity and patient well-being.
Matched on
terms: health, mental
PFD report
73match
Michael George
Senior management may have attached insufficient importance to previous PFD reports regarding the physical healthcare of mentally ill patients, and there was a lack of domiciliary visits from consultant physicians to mental health wards.
Matched on
terms: health, mental
PFD report
73match
Anne Wilson
Changes in police welfare check policy were not communicated to ambulance services, and police staff lacked training on managing mental health requests, leading to critical information not being acted upon or shared with the requesting GP.
Matched on
terms: health, mental
PFD report
73match
Chentoori Chanthirakumar
Communication failures, including an email rather than a face-to-face meeting about academic re-take, and mental health staff misinterpreting confidentiality, prevented effective support for a distressed student.
Matched on
terms: health, mental
PFD report
73match
Shalane Blackwood
The prison lacks adequate provision for complex health needs, has insufficient staff for prisoner regimes, faces rife NPS use, and has unclear decision-making tools and staff awareness for physical symptoms alongside mental health issues.
Matched on
terms: health, mental
PFD report
73match
Gillian Taylor
A lack of acute mental health facilities in Powys forces patients to be moved far from home, causing discontinuity of care and negatively impacting patient engagement, thus increasing self-harm and suicide risk.
Matched on
terms: health, mental
PFD report
73match
Steven Trudgill
HM Prison Service lacked standardised treatment programs for fire setters with complex mental health issues, and a suggested therapeutic community option for the deceased was not implemented.
Matched on
terms: health, mental
PFD report
73match
Patricia Cleghorn
The unavailability of acute mental health beds led to a vulnerable patient being cared for in the community with limited resources, alongside a failure to conduct a formal risk assessment despite repeated threats of overdose.
Matched on
terms: health, mental
PFD report
73match
Wendy Telfer
Inadequate training for physical healthcare staff on mental health needs and Mental Health Act application is a concern. A severe national shortage of psychiatric beds also caused critical delays in patient transfer, contributing to preventable deaths.
Matched on
terms: health, mental