Relative on section 2 but no hospital beds

[Longtime67]

They are currently in a 136 suite which they were taken to be police. Will they just be kept there till a local bed comes up

Oh that’s sad. I saw one of those 999 programmes the other week that had an A and E patient brought into hospital because of concerns for her safety after self harming. She ended up in a side cubicle for about 36 hours with members of staff rotated to watch her 1 to 1. And the reason? There wasn’t a single suitable MH bed for a female patient in the entire country, that’s country , not county. Not one. They were ringing round everywhere, even private hospitals but no one could take her. And this was a hospital that was supposed to have a good rep for MH, to be fair they were very concerned and did their very best, but it wasn’t the right place for her . They found her a bed eventually, but it was very stressful, and ultimately wasteful of resources since they were effectively a nurse down for those 36 hours. Not that the woman didn’t need the care, but everything is so tight these days that even the slightest extra strain causes issues.

I hope your relative is found a bed soon, though it might not be local.I’m sure they will try their hardest, but it is a disgrace that there are so few emergency placements available when there is such a huge need.

I would have thought so. They cant send them anywhere else as they are now under Sec 2. I hope your relative gets the support they need.

So they can’t send out of area then due to the section?

@Longtime67

So they can’t send out of area then due to the section?

They can send out of area if there is an available bed.

They will send to another area if they have no beds available in that hospital. My brother has been sectioned multiple times and this happened to him. Hope your all ok

Yes. Or the trust decides to fork out for a private bed

They will be kept there till a bed is available it exactly happened to me a few years ago and sent out of area over 250 miles away but it was needed and the best they could do

Oh gosh I didn’t think they would send her so far

@Longtime67

Oh gosh I didn’t think they would send her so far

I was only in that one a week as it was priory and the policy is to get a bed in your local trust ASAP so if she does get sent far away hopefully it won’t be for too long

It’s likely that your relative will be placed in the next available bed, regardless of where that is, due to the national shortage of mental health beds.

Yep, my friend on a section 3 was in a cubicle for 48 hours after self presenting at a&e in a really bad way. They will allocate next available bed nationwide - it takes time though due to chronic mh facility shortages.