Private mental health firms paid £1million a day by NHS as 40% need safety 'upgrade'

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Shadow mental health minister Dr Rosena Allin-Khan wants Tories to hire more NHS mental health workers to cut lists crippling waiting

Shadow Mental Health Minister Rosena Allin-Khan (

Image: PA)

Private mental health providers earned £1.37million a day from the NHS in 2020-21, figures show.

Yet four out of 10 services from leading providers are "inadequate" or "needs improvement" for patient safety.

Shadow mental health minister Dr Rosena Allin-Khan wants the Tories to hire more NHS mental health workers to reduce crippling waiting lists.

She said, "Every day is Christmas for shareholders of private mental health care companies.

"As waiting lists grow and patients receive inadequate treatment, private providers laugh all the way to the bank.

"Labour will recruit an additional 8,500 staff to ensure early support for everyone within four weeks and access to counselors in every school, so everyone can get the early treatment they need."

The estimated bill is based on data obtained by Labor showing that NHS trusts have spent £501million on private mental health services, a 300% increase in 10 years.

Nadia Shah committed suicide at Potters Bar Clinic in Elysium, Herts. (

Picture:

Irwin Mitchell/SWNS)

Sector director pay was £1.1m in 2020-21.

The sums were criticized by Lorraine Shah, whose daughter Nadia, 16, took her own life at Elsyium's Potters Bar Clinic, Herts.

Lorraine, 49, said: "It seems wrong that we are giving money to these private companies when they are failing our children."

The Care Quality Commission found that mental health services at 12 Elysium sites needed improvement for patient safety.

Four were inadequate and 27 were good. Eighteen Priory hospitals needed improvement, four were inadequate, 25 were good and one was exceptional. Cygnet had four inadequate ratings, 19 needing improvement and 31 good.

The Department of Health and Social Care said: "We are committed to increasing investment by £2.3 billion a year. Two million more people will have access to support and we are aiming for an increase of 27,000 people in mental health."

Cygnet said, "The CQC rated 77% of all mental health services as good or exceptional. Patient safety is our top priority."

The Priory said "c...