Emily Townsend

Health Service Journal • 27th November 2025

'Parity' rule disparaged as ‘micromanagement’ by government

By Emily Townsend2025-11-27T13:32:00The spending rule designed to ensure that mental health services received an equal share of NHS funding growth has been criticised by the government as an example of “command and control micromanagement”. By Emily Townsend2025-11-27T13:32:00 The spending rule designed to ensure that mental health services received an equal share of NHS funding growth has been criticised by the government as an example of “command and control micromanagement”.

Health Service Journal • 26th November 2025

Exclusive: Government accused of ‘weakening’ spend on service at ‘breaking point’

By Emily Townsend2025-11-26T12:13:00Mental health spending will only rise in line with inflation under new NHS England proposals, HSJ has learned, in what sector leaders have described as a “weakening” of funding protections. By Emily Townsend2025-11-26T12:13:00 Mental health spending will only rise in line with inflation under new NHS England proposals, HSJ has learned, in what sector leaders have described as a “weakening” of funding protections.

Health Service Journal • 5th November 2024

‘Tension’ and ‘poor behaviours’ uncovered on trust’s board

By Emily Townsend2024-11-05T12:50:00The board of a mental health trust grappling with serious culture and safety concerns is “not functioning well”, an NHS England investigation has found, amid the early departure of its chair. By Emily Townsend2024-11-05T12:50:00 The board of a mental health trust grappling with serious culture and safety concerns is “not functioning well”, an NHS England investigation has found, amid the early departure of its chair.

Health Service Journal • 14th October 2024

‘Dangerous’ people should not be admitted to specialist beds, warns CEO

By Emily Townsend2024-10-14T11:40:00Police should work with mental health services to ensure people who pose a danger to society — and show no signs of being mentally unwell — are not inappropriately admitted to rarely available specialist beds, a chief executive has said. By Emily Townsend2024-10-14T11:40:00 Police should work with mental health services to ensure people who pose a danger to society — and show no signs of being mentally unwell — are not inappropriately admitted to rarely avai...

HSJ Health Check podcast 🎙️ via SoundCloud • 13th September 2024

Inquiries - who are they for?

Guest host Ben Clover is joined by Emily Townsend and Zoe Tidman to look at the first weeks of the Thirlwall inquiry into the management response neonatal deaths at the Countess of Chester, the Lampard inquiry into the d… Guest host Ben Clover is joined by Emily Townsend and Zoe Tidman to look at the first weeks of the Thirlwall inquiry into the management response neonatal deaths at the Countess of Chester, the Lampard inquiry into the d…

Health Service Journal • 21st August 2024

Trust to review year-long waiters after woman’s death

By Emily Townsend2024-08-21T04:20:00A mental health trust will review patients not seen by its services for more than a year after a woman died having waited 13 months for a follow-up appointment. By Emily Townsend2024-08-21T04:20:00 A mental health trust will review patients not seen by its services for more than a year after a woman died having waited 13 months for a follow-up appointment.

Health Service Journal • 5th June 2024

Suicide risks found in nearly half A&E and mental health wards

Nearly half of hospital inspections for emergency departments and mental health wards have raised concerns over ligature risks for vulnerable patients, HSJ analysis has found.

Health Service Journal • 26th March 2024

Patient experience is often ‘horrendously poor’ admits trust CEO

A trust chief executive has warned of the “dire” economic challenge facing his system, saying children and young people are already facing “horrendously poor” experiences.

Health Service Journal • 14th November 2023

Mental Health Matters: Life and death decisions

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Health Service Journal • 31st October 2023

Mental Health Matters: Ministers and ICBs told to act on ‘baby blind spot’

Sign up to our premium ‘Insights’ package to access this content - Subscribe now HSJ provides you with a clear and unbiased view of what’s happening now and what’s coming up, locally and nationally within the healthcare sector. Our premium ‘Insights’ package includes: Already a subscriber and would like to upgrade to an Insights subscription? Please contact Customer Services or your Corporate Account Manager. Email customerservices@hsj.co.uk or call us today on 020 8955 7055

Health Service Journal • 26th October 2023

NHSE refusal to take ownership of struggling service is ‘complete failure of leadership’

No senior NHS England director is prepared to take responsibility for ADHD services – which are facing waits of up to a decade and severe medication shortages – HSJ has discovered.

Health Service Journal • 17th October 2023

Mental Health Matters: What shadow ministers promised in Liverpool

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Health Service Journal • 17th October 2023

Two trusts to miss deadline for eliminating ‘distressing’ wards

At least two trusts are set to fall short on a high-profile pledge to eradicate ‘dormitory’ style wards in mental health facilities, with delays caused by cost pressures and shortage of materials and labour.

Health Service Journal • 3rd October 2023

Mental Health Matters: The new president’s in tray

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Health Service Journal • 29th September 2023

Exclusive: Police seeking access to medical notes of thousands of rape victims

Police have made more than 20,000 requests to access the medical notes of NHS patients receiving mental healthcare in the past five years, figures obtained by HSJ reveal.

Health Service Journal • 21st September 2023

NHSE director ‘concerned by 20pc nursing gap’ amid push to tackle poor culture

NHS England’s national mental health director admitted she was ‘concerned’ that 20 per cent of mental health nurse roles were unfilled and the impact this could have on a nationwide push to improve safety and tackle closed cultures.

Health Service Journal • 19th September 2023

Police dropping most mental health calls ‘could cost NHS £260m’

The national rollout of a new policing model scaling back officers’ responses to mental health incidents could cost the NHS around £260m, a trust chief executive has told MPs.

Health Service Journal • 19th September 2023

Mental Health Matters: Child’s death highlights expectation vs reality gap on suicide

Sign up to our premium ‘Insights’ package to access this content - Subscribe now HSJ provides you with a clear and unbiased view of what’s happening now and what’s coming up, locally and nationally within the healthcare sector. Our premium ‘Insights’ package includes: Already a subscriber and would like to upgrade to an Insights subscription? Please contact Customer Services or your Corporate Account Manager. Email customerservices@hsj.co.uk or call us today on 020 8955 7055

Health Service Journal • 18th September 2023

Trusts told to name directors leading response to restraint scandals

Mental health trusts should be naming board members in charge of investigating and reducing restrictive interventions, according to the Care Quality Commission’s director for the sector.

Health Service Journal • 15th September 2023

Exclusive: Police policy creates 'risk' for service ‘already under enormous pressure’

NHS England has warned the decision by police forces to respond to far fewer incidents involving people suffering mental distress will pose ‘risks’ to both patients and a service “already under enormous pressure”.