HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS British Journal of Psychiatry Advances in Psychiatric Treatment All RCPsych Journals		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Submit an eLetter Alert me when this article is cited Alert me when eLetters are posted Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via CrossRef Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Greengross, P. Articles by Stanton, R. Search for Related Content PubMed Articles by Greengross, P. Articles by Stanton, R.

Pressure on adult acute psychiatric beds. Results of a national questionnaire survey

Department of Public Health & Health Policy, Brent & Harrow Health Authority

Doris Hollander, Honorary Senior Lecturer

Institute of Psychiatry, PO Box LB1473, London W1A 9LB

Richard Stanton, Consultant Psychiatrist

Bath Mental Healthcare NHS Trust

AIMS AND METHOD

To quantify perceived problems with psychiatric bed availability nationally using a questionnaire survey of all 210 UK mental health trusts.

RESULTS

One hundred and seventy-three (82%) trusts replied. Thirty (17%) are often over-occupied, 21 (15%) often have problems with bed availability. Ten (7%) often use extra-contractual referrals (ECRs). Frequent over-occupancy is associated with deprivation. Frequent use of ECRs is associated with relatively few beds.

CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS

Problems with bed availability are found nationwide, but outside southern England are relatively infrequent. Such problems are less pronounced than in Greater London.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				J. Glasby and H. Lester On the Inside: A Narrative Review of Mental Health Inpatient Services Br. J. Soc. Work, September 1, 2005; 35(6): 863 - 879. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				G. Inglis and M. Baggaley Triage in mental health - a new model for acute in-patient psychiatry Psychiatr. Bull., July 1, 2005; 29(7): 255 - 258. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. G. Smyth Crisis resolution/home treatment and in-patient care Psychiatr. Bull., February 1, 2003; 27(2): 44 - 47. [Full Text] [PDF]

				H. Griffiths Acute wards: problems and solutions: Their fall and rise Psychiatr. Bull., November 1, 2002; 26(11): 428 - 430. [Full Text] [PDF]