LONG waits for mental health patients in Lancashire accident and emergency departments rose in January - with the Royal Blackburn Hospital causing the most alarm.

NHS chiefs have been told the number of 12-hour breaches on casualty units has "increased notably" in the post-pandemic period.

Thirty-two such breaches occurred at the Royal Blackburn Hospital in January, with Blackpool Victoria Hospital close behind on 27 and the Royal Lancaster Infirmary having 24, the Lancashire and South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust Board has heard.

Phil Horner. the trust's performance director, said in a report: "Analysis of these admissions shows a clear theme of increasing numbers of patients having a decision to admit made in a community setting but following delays in finding a suitable bed, being taken to A&E from where the admission takes place.

"Overall numbers of bed requests remain 10.2% lower than 2021 levels, but there has been an increasing trend of patients going to A&E after a decision to admit has been made."

Board members were also told that the average wait in January for 12-hour breach cases was 40 hours and 25 minutes - and the longest delay was 111 hours and 11 minutes.

Mental health liaison team post-pandemic demand is thought to have now peaked, with a 'monthly ceiling' of around 1,000 patients.

The admission target breaches are said to not be as a result of the liaison teams' lack of response but the 'unavailability of beds' to admit patients to.

Trust officials have convened a winter resilience working group to examine such issues with mental health urgent assessments centres being used.

Further work has also been ongoing regarding the length of stay and elimination of 'super-stranded' patients to free up beds and regular reviews with senior clinicians.

The trust could also draw upon £200m worth of national discharge funds to assist.