People in mental health crisis waiting up to three days in A&E in England

Royal College of Nursing findings described as a scandal in plain sight' with with conditions close to torture'

Thousands of people in a mental health crisis are enduring waits of up to three days in A&E before they get a bed, with conditions close to torture" for those in such a distressed state.

At one hospital, some patients have become so upset at the delays in being admitted that they have left and tried to kill themselves nearby, leading nurses and the fire brigade to follow in an attempt to stop them.

Some trusts that previously had no long waits for mental health patients now have hundreds.

The number of people seeking help at A&E for mental health emergencies is rising steadily and reached 216,182 last year.

The recruitment of mental health nurses has lagged far behind the rise in demand.

The number of beds in mental health units has fallen by 3,699 since 2014.