A Fair Deal for mental health includes local rehabilitation services

Abstract

Lack of policy for mental health rehabilitation services has led to disinvestment and expansion of out-of-area placements in in-patient, nursing and residential care settings in the independent sector. Although a minority provide very specialist services that cannot be provided locally, and many provide good-quality care, there are significant concerns about the lack of rehabilitation focus in some of those services, poor links with local care managers and the social dislocation caused by being placed many miles from home. Additionally, out-of-area placements cost more than local rehabilitation services. There is, therefore, a compelling case for all individuals with complex mental health problems to have access to local rehabilitation services in order to expedite their recovery and social inclusion. The Faculty of Rehabilitation and Social Psychiatry of the Royal College of Psychiatrists has recently published a service template to guide commissioners and service providers in the UK in the kinds of rehabilitation services they need to provide locally.