The context of inpatient mental health care in England

Abstract

This chapter, which is of special interest to mental health professionals who are unfamiliar with the UK mental health care system, reviews the practice of inpatient care in relation to the provision of overall psychiatric care in England. The structure of mental healht care in the UK National Health Service (NHS) is outlined and in particular the various sub-specialities of inpatient care. Recent trends in the provision of inpatient psychiatric care in the UK are considered in comparison with those in Europe and North America. There follows a review of public sector care under the NHS and a debate about the effectiveness of inpatient care and whether it should be a separate psychiatric subspeciality. Finally local service developments are discussed as a type of case study to illustrate how services are currently undergoing rapid changes.