Thousands of people are being forced to travel tens or even hundreds of miles to access mental health treatment on the NHS – because beds are not available locally.

In May alone, there were 575 “inappropriate out of area mental health placements” in England.

More than three-fifths of patients (62%) had to travel over 60 miles from home, according to analysis of the latest data from NHS Digital by the Royal College of Psychiatrists.

And 50% of placements lasted longer than 31 days – a record-high percentage.

Rachel Bannister’s daughter was diagnosed with an eating disorder in 2013 and sent to a number of distant hospitals over the next three years – including one in Scotland, hundreds of miles from the family home in Nottingham.

She was there for six months, including Christmas.

“She’d ring me up, and she’d say, ‘Mum, I just want you to come and get me and take me for a walk to the park or give me a hug,'” Rachel told Sky News.

“She was 300 miles away in Scotland when she said that, and it broke me.”

Seeing her daughter leave was painful too, Rachel said: “The trauma of that initial separation when your child is ripped away from the heart of your family – you feel that you’ve failed them.”

Missed deadlines

The government set what it described as a “national ambition” to eliminate inappropriate out of area placements by 2020-21.

But that time has long since passed and little progress is being made.

In the 12 months since the deadline was missed, 4,180 new out of area placements have been recorded.

COVID-related pressures, including bed closures for infection control and staff absences, are said to have contributed to the continuing problems.

Clinicians say it is “heart-breaking” to have to tell patients they are going to be sent away.

It is a subject towards which the Royal Society of Psychiatrists takes a “zero tolerance” approach.

“These placements are bad for patients, for their relatives and loved ones, and for the exchequer,” said the college’s dean, Subodh Dave.

“What we want is an end to these inappropriate out of area placements, and better funding of mental health services both before and after admission to support crisis teams to support rehabilitation efforts.”

There are some circumstances in which out-of-area care is the best choice for a patient.

They may require specialist services their local hospital can’t provide, or they may choose to be treated in a different area to be closer to their family.

The Department of Health and Social Care said in a statement: “Everyone should have access to safe, appropriate mental health care and we recognise the impact that receiving care far away from loved ones can have.

“That’s why we are investing an extra £2.3bn per year to transform NHS mental health services by 2024, meaning more people will be able to receive care as close to home as possible.”

Rachel Bannister is now campaigning for better funded NHS services through her charity – Mental Health – Time for Action Foundation.

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