Anthony McCormack
27 Sept 2019 · Coroner Emma Brown · Birmingham and Solihull
This report repeats 2 earlier warnings, and was raised again 2 times later. See the linked reports.
The coroner's concerns
1. lack of inpatient mental health beds
“Between the 16th March 2019 and the 25th April 2019, a bed could not be found for the Deceased even though he had been assessed and fit for detention. The absence of a bed meant that Mr [name redacted] was not adequately assessed and appropriate treatment could not be given. With inpatient admission it is unlikely Mr [name redacted] would have taken his life. The evidence from witnesses from BSMHT was that there continues to be a shortage of beds.”
Linked reports
Identical hazardConfidence 0.85 · high
Earlier report
“availability of acute mental health beds means the most vulnerable people are being cared for in the community with limited resources and care.”
This report
“a bed could not be found for the Deceased even though he had been assessed and fit for detention. The absence of a bed meant that Mr [name redacted] was not adequately assessed and appropriate treatment could not be given.”
Identical hazardConfidence 0.90 · high
Earlier report
“There were no beds available and as a result he had further episodes of self-harm and suicide attempts.”
This report
“Between the 16th March 2019 and the 25th April 2019, a bed could not be found for the Deceased even though he had been assessed and fit for detention.”
Closely relatedConfidence 0.85 · high
This report
“Between the 16th March 2019 and the 25th April 2019, a bed could not be found for the Deceased even though he had been assessed and fit for detention.”
Later report
“Lack of inpatient mental health beds and lack of Psychiatric decisions unit (PDU) spaces: The inquest heard how there was a regional and national lack of inpatient beds and spaces in PDU.”
Closely relatedConfidence 0.90 · high
This report
“Between the 16th March 2019 and the 25th April 2019, a bed could not be found for the Deceased even though he had been assessed and fit for detention.”
Later report
“My principal concern is that the above dates indicate available psychiatric bed capacity in Birmingham and Solihull remains inadequate.”
Responses
2019-0317-Response-by-Birmingham-and-Solihull-CCG.pdf ↗· Birmingham and Solihull Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust
Stated action
“The CCG has been working closely with both local mental health service providers and the third sector, with the aim of improving the service offer for people experiencing a mental health crisis. Stakeholders are working on designing community based services, which will increase accessibility for those in crisis and their families, to deliver the most appropriate support at the earliest opportunity.”