Almost 1,000 left waiting '“ some more than six months - for mental health care

Seven adults – though no children – waited longer than six months, a response to a Freedom of Information request made in July said.

{https://www.blackpoolgazette.co.uk/news/health/more-people-will-die-warning-in-blackpool-as-mental-health-services-struggle-to-cope-1-9323783│Last week, The Gazette revealed how Blackpool’s coroner Alan Wilson warned more people will die if “struggling” mental health services do not get help to cope with the huge level of demand they are facing.}

Concerns were raised with a government minister that staff were treating an “excessive number” of patients on the Fylde coast.

Mr Wilson’s comments came against a backdrop of rising demand for mental health services yet falling numbers of nurses.

Lancashire Care, which provides mental health care across the county, said it was getting double the number of referrals than elsewhere.

{https://www.blackpoolgazette.co.uk/news/patients-in-blackpool-are-waiting-three-months-between-therapy-sessions-1-9326264│Last week, The Gazette also told how patients are waiting three months between therapy sessions,} while in July, {https://www.blackpoolgazette.co.uk/news/health/i-feel-like-they-have-taken-away-my-hope-1-9277054│Rachael Graham from Bispham, said she had been discharged from services while in the middle of her “biggest crisis for years”.}