The Westcountry desperately needs a mental health hospital following recent news coverage about mental health patients travelling nearly 600 miles for mental health facilities.

The Guardian said that “Almost 6,000 mental health patients had to be sent far out of their local area for treatment last year, with some travelling hundreds of miles, according to NHS figures.”

“Data obtained by the British Medical Association shows the number of patients with mental health problems travelling long distances for care in England has risen by 40% in two years.”

With one in four people now said to be suffering from mental health at some stage of their lives this number will continue to rise unless a specialist mental health facility is built in the Westcountry.

In 2016-17, 5,876 travelled out of their area for treatment, compared with 4,213 in 2014-15.

One patient had to travel 587 miles from Somerset to the Scottish Highlands for help, the figures show.

Patients sent away for treatment could expect an average round-trip journey of seven and a half hours to see friends and family.

This isn’t ideal when transport costs and facilities in this country are poor and with higher petrol prices rising it isn’t fair that someone who is mentally ill, afraid and frightened have to go to a mental health hospital which is hundreds of miles away from their families and friends.

Louise Rubin of the charity Mind said: “It’s unacceptable that people who are at their most unwell and in desperate need of care find themselves travelling across the country to get help .

When you’re experiencing a mental health crisis, you’re likely to feel scared, vulnerable and alone, so your support network of family and friends are instrumental to recovery.”

An NHS England spokesperson said: “NHS England is investing an extra £400m in crisis resolution home treatment teams as part of our plans for the biggest expansion of mental health services in Europe.

They also added that they are giving local mental health trusts new powers to tailor mental health services to better meet their area’s individual needs, improving local services and ending the practice of sending people long distances to receive treatment.”

Back in April this year North Cornwall MP Scott Mann announced that he was delighted that NHS England had finally given the green light for new mental health facilities in Cornwall.

A new 12-bed mental health facility in Bodmin will be built for young people aged up to 18 years old.

Currently, many young people have to travel out of county to access a mental health bed.

The facility will be built near Bodmin Hospital and will cater for young people in Cornwall with mental health illnesses.

It’s fantastic that children down in the far South West are finally getting recognised and some much-needed help.

However, by no means is this facility enough for the over 18s in Cornwall who suffer from mental health problems, and there are far more adults in the South West, particularly in Cornwall than there are children.

Watch this space for news and updates on this!

Have you had to travel miles away from your home to check into or visit a loved one in a mental health hospital?

What are your thoughts about building a Westcountry mental health hospital?

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