"Deeply Disappointing" Report Reveals People Are Still Waiting Too Long for Mental Healthcare

People Waiting Too Long For Mental Health Care And Becoming More Ill While They Wait, CQC Finds

Increasing demand for services and higher thresholds for admission are leading to long waits for mental health care, CQC’s annual report into the use of the Mental Health Act highlighted today, 29 January 2026. The Monitoring the Mental Health Act 2024/2025 report, which was built on interviews with over 3,000 patients and over 700 family members and carers, revealed worrying reoccurring issues of staff shortages, a lack of beds, and inconsisten…

New CQC report yet more evidence of increasing demand facing mental health services

The CQC report also lays bare that unacceptable racial inequalities still exist.

"Deeply disappointing" report reveals people are still waiting too long for mental healthcare

STAFF shortages and lack of beds are causing an increase in demand for mental healthcare services services according to a “deeply disappointing” report by the Care Quality Commission (CQC). Higher thresholds for admission are also leading to long waits for mental healthcare, according to the CQC’s annual report into the use of the Mental Health Act published today, 29 January 2026. The Monitoring the Mental Health Act 2024/2025 report, which was…