Mental health care service on its knees – Manchester doctor

Data from the FOI shows Cheshire and Wirral Partnership NHS Foundation Trust had the biggest spike in spending on private mental health care beds.

It spent £12.5m more on private mental health care beds in 2023-24 – a rise of almost 54,000% – compared with 2020-21 when it paid just over £20,000.

However, Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust is bucking the trend by slashing its spend on private mental health care beds in 2023-24 to £20,330 while it laid out £2.5m in 2020-21.

A spokesperson for NHS Cheshire and Merseyside said “in line with the rest of the country”, it had seen an increase in demand on mental health services “which has called for additional capacity” and private beds were used “where it is clinically appropriate”.

They said the trust was working with partners “to utilise all capacity available – including the use of the independent sector – to improve the flow of patients across Cheshire and Merseyside”.

Greater Manchester Mental Health Care NHS Foundation Trust spending has jumped from £5.6m in 2020-21 to £14.5m in 2023-24.

In August, the BBC reported Greater Manchester had seen the largest increase in sending mental health patients out of area.

The trust has been contacted by the BBC for comment.