The report by the Health Services Safety Investigations Body (HSSIB), which stresses the importance of therapeutic care, found wide variations in the safety of mental health in England.

Nick Woodier, senior safety investigator, said: ‘Mental health providers do recognise the risks to patient safety, but told us that addressing them is sometimes beyond their control, for example due to the lack of an available workforce or limited funds to make environments safer. Our findings and safety recommendations show what needs to be prioritised at a national level to reduce the likelihood of harm to patients and support the future delivery of safe and therapeutic care.'

Response

Director of policy, Dr Layla McCay, repeated NHS Confederation's call for an annual rise in capital funding of £6.4bn each year so that our members can repair crumbling estates and urged a ‘review of the mental health estate along with a strategic implementation plan to increase the workforce and to ensure all patients are treated with dignity'.

Deputy chief executive of NHS Providers, Saffron Cordery, said: ‘The poor condition of the mental health estate - much of which is not fit for purpose – is a cause of concern. It's vital the Government takes urgent action to ensure all trusts have access to sufficient capital funding to halt the deterioration of their estate, eradicate the repairs backlog and provide high-quality care in environments fit for the 21st century.'

A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson said: ‘Patient safety is paramount, and anyone receiving treatment in an inpatient mental health facility deserves safe, high-quality care, and to be treated with dignity and respect. We are grateful to HSSIB for this report, which highlights important concerns that can help us to improve inpatient mental health services. 

‘This Government will reform the Mental Health Act, to ensure that people with the most severe mental health conditions receive better, more personalised treatment that is appropriate, proportionate, and compassionate to their needs. 

‘We will work also with the NHS to transform care and recruit 8,500 more mental health workers across children and adult services to reduce delays and provide faster treatment.'

An NHS England spokesperson said: ‘Mental health services are seeing record demand with an increase of almost two-fifths compared to before the pandemic, and we know there is much more to do to provide better care for patients. We are working to improve the quality and safety of all mental health, learning disability and autism inpatient services, and plan to introduce hundreds of extra clinical roles across mental health services in the NHS.'