BBC’s File on 4 has revealed that there are still serious issues with the quality of specialist care being provided to patients with complex mental health needs. Elizabeth Cleaver, solicitor in our Public Law team, comments:

File on 4 have highlighted an important issue affecting those who require admission for specialist mental health treatment. For many years these highly specialist services have been outsourced to the private sector, and concerns have been raised about the quality of care provided to some of the most complex mental health patients in the country.

There is a clear need for good quality and local specialist services for patients, who should not have to travel hundreds of miles to get the treatment that they need.