Rethink Responds to HSSIB Report on Crisis Care in Emergency Departments

The Health Services Safety Investigations Body published a report highlighting a critical legal gap: A&E departments have no lawful authority to prevent people experiencing mental health crises from leaving before receiving assessment or admission. Rethink Mental Illness chief executive Mark Winstanley called the examples of unsafe care 'appalling', and urged urgent action on strengthened accountability, workforce investment, and therapeutic approaches to crisis care.