ABSTRACT
The warnings issued by the Royal College of Psychiatrists about the fate of psychiatric services in the UK will ring true for mental health workers and patients alike. The huge pressures put on inpatient units, the shortage of beds and the often unnecessary and intrusive bureaucracy all contribute to lowering standards of care. This, combined with a reduction in the number of trainee psychiatrists and increasing difficulty in obtaining visas for overseas workers, spells gloom for the future of mental health. Ministers are being exhorted to act now, before this dreadful situation becomes irreversible. But what action should they take?’
