Millions of mental health patients ‘facing NHS delays or missing out’

Auditors said NHS mental health services ‘are under continued and increasing pressure’, with many users are reporting poor experiences

Millions of people with mental health problems, including children with eating disorders, are missing out on NHS treatment or face lengthy waits, the National Audit Office (NAO) has said.

In a new report, the watchdog said that while the number of people getting care has increased overall to 4.5 million in England, some targets are not being met and do not even apply to the bulk of inpatient or community treatment.

The NAO pointed to a growing crisis within the NHS workforce, saying there were more staff, but overall shortages “remain the major constraint to improving and expanding services”.