Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment his Department has made of the impact on patients of being admitted to inappropriate out of area placements as a result of no appropriate mental health services being available locally.

On average, hospital admissions out of area result in a longer length of stay than for local admissions. Evidence shows that being treated out of areas can impact the continuity of care of patients, with disruptions to their care and reduced contact with family, carers and support networks, all of which are critical to recovery.

We continue to work with NHS England to monitor the use of such placements. All systems which have inappropriate out of area placements are required to refresh local plans to ensure these are eliminated as soon as reasonably possible.