Region reduces mental health out-of-area placements by 96%
Putting a patient in a mental health bed far from home separates them from family, friends and support networks. It can slow recovery and lead to poorer outcomes. These placements can also cost the NHS almost £430,000 each.
The north west NHS team tackled this by bringing together NHS trusts, integrated care boards and local authorities around a shared goal: getting patients the right care, closer to home.
Key to this was honest conversations between partners, backed by clear and transparent data. Weekly and monthly oversight meetings kept everyone focused on patient outcomes, not just budgets.
The results speak for themselves:
- 96% reduction in inappropriate out-of-area placements
- average length of hospital stay fell by 8%
- around £23 million in potential savings in 2025 to 2026 in one of the north west systems
- an estimated £37 million in recurring annual savings in one of the north west systems
- money saved has already been reinvested into local services
This work shows what is possible when NHS organisations work together with a shared purpose, strong leadership and a clear focus on what matters most: quality care and improved experience and outcomes for patients.