Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Al Mayadeen’s correspondent in southern Lebanon: An Israeli drone launched a missile strike on the town of Houla
The Israeli military command claims that air defenses intercepted a drone over the Haifa area, no sirens sounded in accordance with protocol
Israeli media: A loud explosion was heard in the Krayot, authorities are investigating whether it was caused by a drone, however sirens did not sound
Iranian military official: Footage of missile explosions confirms the use of enhanced warheads and high explosives
Iranian military official: These missiles were able to bypass anti-ballistic missile air defense systems such as THAAD, Arrow, and David's Sling.
Iranian military official: Data from the operations room and field information indicate that more than 70% of the missiles accurately hit their targets
Iranian military official: The missiles were specifically manufactured to target the Zionist entity's sites, and their production was supervised by the martyred commander, Major General Hajizadeh
Fars News Agency, citing an Iranian military official: Iran used new-generation missiles with high accuracy and full guidance in the attack it launched on Israel on Thursday morning
Commander of the Islamic Revolution Guard Corps in Iran, Major General Mohammad Pakpour: We shall tread the path of our martyred leaders, Bagheri, Salami, Hajizadeh, and Rashid, with utmost strength
Iranian state TV: IRGC Major General Mohammad Pakpour issues a decree appointing Brigadier General Majid Khademi as the new head of the IRGC's Intelligence

The longest wait in the history of NHS for a mental health patient

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: Agencies
  • 4 Jul 2022 22:58
3 Min Read

As the UK struggles with inflation and further medical strain, the NHS has now witnessed its longest wait for a mental health patient in crisis at 8.5 days.

  • x
  • As the wait became more agonizing for her, she self-harmed by hitting her head against a wall.
    As the wait became more agonizing for her, she self-harmed by hitting her head against a wall. (The Guardian)

The longest wait for a psychiatric hospital bed in the NHS was reportedly eight and a half days for an 18-year-old woman experiencing a mental health crisis before she was given a bed in A&E, the emergency department in the UK.

Because there were no beds available in a mental health facility, the woman, who chose to remain anonymous, was left in the care of the police and security personnel and forced to spend the night in a chair and on a mattress on the floor in the A&E at St Helier hospital in Sutton, south London.

As her struggle progressed, she grew more "dejected, despairing and desperate" and her mental health deteriorated as she waited. As the wait became more agonizing for her, she self-harmed by hitting her head against a wall. Eventually, the lady ran away twice because she was unsure of the exact day when her inpatient treatment would begin.

Read next: Lives at risk in England as NHS fails to provide ambulances on time 

Related News

England’s hospitals may cut 100,000+ jobs amid cost-cutting directives

England hospital doctors stage strike ahead of general election

According to a written account, the lady’s parents were increasingly distressed as the NHS told them that no beds were available for their daughter, neither locally nor across the entirety of England. The waiting time of 8.5 days has been believed by the mental health charity, Mind, to be the longest wait in A&E for anyone experiencing a mental health crisis. Mind described the incident as “unacceptable, disgraceful and dangerous." The charity demanded immediate action to address the inadequacies of NHS mental health services and bed availability.

“An eight-and-a-half day wait in A&E for a mental health bed is both unacceptable and disgraceful. Mind has never heard of a patient in crisis waiting this long to receive the care they need, and serious questions need to be raised as to how anyone – let alone an 18-year-old – was left to suffer for so long without the care she needs,” said Rheian Davies, the head of Mind’s legal unit.

Davies also highlighted that this incident should be a red flag and the responsibility of all decision-makers involved in the process “from leaders at the trust to the secretary of state himself,” adding that “a situation like this is indicative of the dire straits our mental health crisis care services are in.”

The family had also contacted their MP Representative who had returned to them in a letter pointing out that their case has not been the first of its kind and that he has been working, since his election, to find a solution, but several decision-makers are involved and so are the mental health trusts.

Read more: UK NHS risks losing 1/3 of Black, Asian doctors over racism: Survey

  • NHS
  • Mental Health
  • NHS mental health services
  • UK

Most Read

Iranian missiles impact Israeli sites in Tel Aviv in 2nd wave

Iran's missiles impact 'strategic' Israeli site in Tel Aviv

  • Politics
  • 14 Jun 2025
Bin Salman: Islamic world backs Iran in call to Pezeshkian

MBS says Islamic world backs Iran in call with Pezeshkian

  • MENA
  • 15 Jun 2025
Iran launches 9th wave of Op. True Promise 3, destroys IOF air defense

Iran launches 9th wave of Op. True Promise 3, destroys IOF air defense

  • MENA
  • 17 Jun 2025
Smoke rises after an Iranian ballistic missile directly struck Tel Aviv, Occupied Palestine, June 13, 2025 (AP)

Op. True Promise 3: Iran's ballistic missiles strike Tel Aviv

  • MENA
  • 13 Jun 2025

Coverage

All
The Ummah's Martyrs

Read Next

All
A 2013 satellite photo of Iran's Fordow enrichment facility. Photo: DigitalGlobe via Getty Images
Politics

Trump weighs US strike on Iran’s Fordow nuclear facility: The Guardian

Iran's Foreign Minsitry spokesperson, Esmail Baghaei, undated. (Social Media)
Politics

Iran blasts IAEA chief for fueling Western-led nuclear pressure

IAEA claims Iran escalating uranium enrichment at Fordow plant
MENA

Trump, US intelligence split on Iran, Gabbard sidelined

Israeli exposed shelters deemed ineffective against Iranian missiles
Politics

Israeli shelters exposed, ineffective against Iranian missiles

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS