David Warhurst, Chief Finance Officer, says Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust has made major strides in reducing out-of-area placements in the past 16 months. These placements previously cost £428,000 each.

A focus on purposeful admissions supported this, bringing families and senior decision-makers into the key conversations and shifting the culture towards doing the right thing for patients, rather than reaching for quick fixes. This has resulted in a reduction from 110 out-of-area placements to just 1. The projected savings of £20-30 million are being reinvested in community services, early intervention and prevention.