MENTAL health patients are making 'inappropriate' trips to accident and emergency departments because of a service redesign, according to a representative for carers.

The representative claims that these trips are due to the introduction of the Community Assessment and Recovery Service, in January 2017.

The changes have meant that some long term mental health patients have been sent back to their general practitioners after being discharged from secondary care.

A Worcestershire Health and Care NHS Trust spokesman acknowledged that some patients were being referred back to their GPs.

The spokesman added that too many people are stuck in secondary care and that patients are only sent back to their GPs when they are ready.

Susan Nichols, secretary of Worcestershire Mental Health Relative & Carers' Support Group, said: “Patients find it difficult to get a GP appointment.

“If they can’t see a GP they have a crisis and go to A&E which is completely inappropriate.

“A&E has enough problems as it is and is not really geared up to deal with mental health patients in crisis."

Ms Nichols, who is also also a retired mental health nurse, added that patients need time to talk during a crisis and that the emergency unit is not a suitable place for this.

“Carers are also concerned that not all GPs are au fait with mental health issues," she added.

She also said that patients have to jump through several hoops before they get a GP appointment, which often proves too challenging.

Ms Nichols, aged 61, from Powick, added that this leads to particular difficulties at weekends and irregular hours.

The Community Assessment and Recovery Service is part of a redesign of adult mental health services, which saw the introduction of the Healthy Minds service at the beginning of 2016.

The Healthy Minds service is for people who are not already in secondary care and cannot have not been referred back to their GPs.

A spokesperson for Worcestershire Health and Care NHS Trust said: "Discharge from secondary care services is based on individuals' progress to meet their recovery goals.

"At the point of discharge our patients are directed to the most appropriate service to continue their recovery either with healthy minds or through their GP.

"Should their condition deteriorate we have a process to enable people to re-engage with our services as quickly as possible."

The spokesman added that they have a range of services available for 24 hour mental health crisis support.

The Trust is looking for feedback on the service redesign and has invited people to contact them on 01905 681517 or to email WHCNHS.PALS@nhs.net.

Anyone interested in joining Worcestershire Mental Health Relative & Carers' Support Group group can email worcestermhs@gmail.com.