Overview

• The Royal College of Nursing (RCN) reports that 5,260 mental health patients waited over 12 hours for a bed in 2025, up from 1,090 in 2019.
• Patients in crisis often endure up to three days in A&E under distressing conditions, with some monitored by security guards instead of receiving clinical care.
• Mental health inpatient capacity has declined by 17% over the past decade, with 3,699 fewer beds and nearly half the number of mental health nurses per 10,000 patients.
• The UK government has pledged £680 million for mental health services, including 8,500 new staff, a 24/7 NHS 111 crisis line, and £26 million for crisis centres.
• Experts and nurses urge sustained investment in community mental health services to reduce A&E pressure and provide timely, preventative care.