Unexpected deaths of mental health patients under NHS care ROCKET over last three years

UNEXPECTED deaths among mental health patients under NHS care have soared over the last three years, according to new figures.

The number of deaths has rocketed by more than a fifth

 

The number of deaths has rocketed by more than a fifth while serious serious incidents - which require an investigation - have shot up 34 per cent to 8,139 in 2014-2015.

The shocking data - obtained under Freedom of Information laws - also shows the number of mental health patients attempting or committing suicide has risen by a staggering 26 per cent since 2012-13 to 751 last year.

Significant numbers of unexpected deaths at the Mid Staffs NHS trust caused an outcry

Northern Lamb, MP

Liberal Democrat MP Norman Lamb, a former mental health minister under the coalition government, said some services were "struggling to cope" and had been left "threadbare" by underfunding.

He said: "Significant numbers of unexpected deaths at the Mid Staffs NHS trust caused an outcry and these figures should cause the same because they show a dramatic increase in the number of people losing their lives.

"NHS England and the Government should set up an investigation into the cause of this as these figures involve tragedies for families around the country and the human impact is intense."

 

The figures, from NHS England, which cover 58 mental health trusts, show the number of serious incidents has risen year-on-year from 6,074 in 2012-13 and 7,345 in 2013-14.

There were 1,713 unexpected deaths of in-patients or those cared for at home during 2014-15 - up 21 per cent from 1,412 in 2012-13.

 

Liberal Democrat MP Norman Lamb claims that a lack of funding is the issue

 

Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt ordered a review into the NHS trust last month

 

It comes amid mounting pressure on the health service to improve the way patient deaths are investigated and reported.

Last month Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt ordered a review into NHS trusts following a report into Southern Health, which showed the trust had failed to probe the deaths of hundreds of people since 2011.