Impact of ACP referrals forum on elderly mental health bed pressures

Abstract

There is significant pressure on the availability of mental health beds for the elderly within the NHS. In concerted efforts to manage this demand, Surrey and Borders Partnership NHS Foundation Trust established an acute care pathway referrals forum (ACP). Here, the authors discuss their initiative, which provided a solution to waiting times where having a daily meeting of senior clinicians and operational managers focused on arriving at a comprehensive management plan, reduced waiting times, freed up beds and facilitated collective learning across various professions, services and agencies.