RCN calls for urgent investment in mental health nursing as A&E crisis deepens
Patients in crisis waiting days for care as frontline nurses sound the alarm
THE ROYAL COLLEGE OF NURSING is calling for urgent and sustained investment in the mental health nursing workforce after a UK-wide Freedom of Information (FOI) investigation revealed a sharp rise in the number of people attending emergency departments in mental health crisis.
The findings, published today (May 13), come just days after the Welsh Government released its long-awaited Mental Health and Wellbeing Strategy – a document the RCN warns must now be matched with meaningful action and funding.
The FOI responses show a growing number of mental health patients waiting over 12 hours in A&E for appropriate support. Some patients have been forced to wait for up to three days in distress, often without access to specialist care.
In Wales, the RCN says nursing staff are reporting dangerous and inhumane conditions. These include instances of vulnerable patients being monitored by security guards instead of qualified professionals, patients attempting suicide while awaiting treatment, and individuals leaving without receiving any care.
Last month, RCN Wales joined BMA Cymru Wales in launching a petition calling on the Welsh Government to end the use of corridor care in hospitals and guarantee patients are treated with dignity and safety.
RCN Wales warns that chronic underfunding of community mental health services, along with cuts to mental health beds, is placing unsustainable pressure on emergency departments. Without significant investment in specialist community nursing, the college says patients in crisis will continue to be funnelled into emergency departments that are unequipped to meet their needs.
Speaking at the RCN's annual Congress in Liverpool next week, General Secretary and Chief Executive Professor Nicola Ranger is expected to call for 'urgent, massive and sustained investment in community mental health nursing'. She will also condemn the ongoing cuts to mental health beds as short-sighted and dangerous.
The RCN is demanding:
Improved access to education and training – NHS staff must be supported to access the professional development required for modern, safe care.
– NHS staff must be supported to access the professional development required for modern, safe care. Capital investment in residential care – Many NHS mental health facilities are outdated and in disrepair. Patients deserve safe and therapeutic environments.
– Many NHS mental health facilities are outdated and in disrepair. Patients deserve safe and therapeutic environments. Expansion of nurse staffing legislation – Section 25B of the Nurse Staffing Levels (Wales) Act should urgently be extended to mental health inpatient services.
Helen Whyley, Director of RCN Wales, said: 'This report is a wake-up call. It is unacceptable that people in mental health crisis are being left for hours – sometimes days – in emergency departments that cannot meet their needs. The Welsh Government says mental health is a priority, but without real investment in mental health nursing, that promise is meaningless. We need urgent action to recruit, retain, and properly resource specialist nurses in our communities. Mental health patients deserve dignity, expertise and timely care – not queues, delays and despair.'
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The Independent
an hour ago
- The Independent
Breathwork expert Jamie Clements says we're not ‘breathing wrong' but we could all be ‘breathing better'
As a breathwork coach, Jamie Clements founder of The Breath Space often hears a familiar line: 'I can't be breathing wrong because I'm alive.' And while technically true, he says it misses the point. 'Yes, we're all breathing in a way that keeps us alive,' he tells me. 'But doing it a little bit better would do us some good.' After just five minutes of guided breathwork with Clements, I get it. That tight feeling I've been carrying in my chest all day softens, my thoughts are locked in on the breaths I'm taking and I can visualise, strangely, shades of purple behind my closed eyes. When I open them, something has shifted. It's subtle, but I can feel it. That shift, he says, is exactly what breathwork is meant to offer. It's a conscious recalibration of something we do all day without thinking. But as the practice gains traction in the wellness world, and TikTok algorithms churn out breathing 'hacks' by the hour, many struggle to understand how this practice fits in with our day-to-day lives. The principles of breathwork ''The breath' is really this catch-all umbrella term that over the last five to 10 years, particularly in the UK and Western society, has come to encapsulate any way that we can use our breath to shift our state and work with how we think, feel and operate on a physical level, mental level, emotional level and spiritual level,' Clements tells me. To cut through the noise, he's developed a framework that helps people understand the practice without feeling overwhelmed. 'I teach breathwork in three pillars,' he says. This approach is accessible – the idea is that we can all start somewhere. The first, and most foundational pillar, is what Clements calls functional breathing. 'How we breathe moment to moment, unconsciously, throughout the day. Can we improve, not perfect, our default patterns to support better health?' he asks. 'It's less about mastering a technique and more about unlearning habits that might be quietly taxing our systems, like mouth breathing or shallow chest breathing.' The second pillar is what many people think of when they hear the word 'breathwork' – nervous system regulation via intentional exercises with the breath. This includes everything from box breathing to alternate nostril breathing, deliberate patterns that shift how we feel. 'This is what I believe most people think of when they hear 'breathwork', which is breathing techniques for a specific outcome. So changing the speed, depth, rhythm and ratio of the breath in a certain way with a desired outcome in mind,' says Clements. 'You can use the breath like an accelerator or a brake. Speed it up to boost focus and energy. Slow it down to calm the nervous system. It's breathing with intent.' The third pillar is where breathwork becomes transformational. This is where Clements says we can access altered states of consciousness, process trauma and explore emotional healing. It's powerful terrain, and not without risk. 'This part of the work can bring up a lot. It requires care. It's not something to dabble in lightly,' he says. 'But it's also where the biggest shifts can happen.' The benefit of the breath He speaks from experience. The practice of breathwork didn't come to him as a hobby or curiosity. It came as a lifeline. 'I found breathwork at a time when I was really struggling with depression, anxiety and panic attacks. It wasn't overnight, but over time, my life changed. And it's still changing. That's the thing with this work, it evolves as you do,' he tells me. He recalls his first breathwork class, seven years ago. 'That class changed everything. My teacher is someone that I have always looked up to since getting into this space and I'm fortunate that now we're colleagues. It feels full circle.' While breathwork helped Clements improve his own life and set him on a path to help others make sense of theirs, he's wary of the idea that there's a 'right' way to breathe, or that we're all doing it wrong. 'It's a slightly ugly comparison, but I always compare it to posture. My posture's not perfect. Your posture's not perfect. I don't know anybody with perfect posture and I probably don't know anybody with 'perfect breathing'. That being said, if I improved my posture by five or 10 per cent, if I improved my breathing by five or 10 per cent, I would feel better. The main thing to say is don't beat yourself up over this idea of doing it wrong, but do pay more attention to it and understand how you can do it better.' You might have heard a guest on a biohacking podcast make bold claims about how 90 per cent of people are breathing sub-optimally, a figure Clements considers exaggerated. 'Now, we can look at that through a certain lens, but I do think what even those high extremes suggest is that we could all be doing it a little bit better and it would do us some good. Even if you improve your breath by 5 or 10 per cent, you'll feel better. It's not about doing it right, it's about doing it better,' he says. This gentle, non-dogmatic approach is part of what makes Clements a compelling guide in a wellness world that can often feel rigid and perfectionistic. He's particularly critical of performance optimisation that often leads to overwhelm and the idea that there's a 'right way' to be well. 'I saw a stat in the Lululemon wellbeing report that said 45 per cent of people report wellness burnout,' he notes. 'People are exhausted from striving to be well.' 'I've been banging this drum for a good six months to a year now – this obsession with wellness is stressing people out and actually all the biohacks in the world aren't going to overcome the stress of striving for perfection with your wellness.' That exhaustion, he argues, is partly the result of what he calls 'information overload'. In the world of health and wellness, we seem to be inundated with data, protocols and biohacks but ultimately starved of embodiment and true connection, making it hard to process all the information we're served. 'I think post covid we've done a great job of awareness gathering and information gathering. But I see so many people kind of paralysed in that space and going, 'what do I do with all of this information?' I think what we're gonna see come next is this huge shift towards living the insights, living the understanding rather than, you know, comparing our wearable data.' says Clements. 'A lot of people are also going, 'how do I fix me? I am broken.' And actually a huge amount of it is actually just cutting yourself some slack and going, it's okay to want to move forward and grow, but not at the cost of hating yourself in the process.' Finding a way in While breathwork is inherently accessible, its origins are somewhat mystic and esoteric which sees many label what is actually a functional health tool as 'woo'. 'The deeper practices can become ceremonial or overly spiritual – white robes and wide-brim hats – which can alienate people,' says Clements. 'That's fine if it works for you, but it shouldn't be the only way in. The more transformational end of the spectrum can feel out of reach but I want the powerful end of this work to be for everyone.' 'I actually wrote a piece called 'breathwork is broken' about how the commodification of breathwork is both inevitable and problematic. You don't need fancy tools or a big budget to do breathwork but we are in a growing pains phase. 'It's the classic cycle of Western wellness: we get excited, over-commercialise it, then realise we need to course correct,' he says. 'Breathwork is at that turning point. We need stronger ethical standards, better training and more integrity.' If you're breathwork-curious, Clements recommends starting simply. 'The first two pillars, functional breathing and nervous system regulation, are safe to explore on your own. Slowing your breath, trying short patterns like box breathing, that's low-risk and high-reward.' For deeper emotional work, however, he urges caution. 'That's where you want to be discerning. Treat it like finding a therapist. Don't just follow a big-name Instagram account. I think one of the big dangers of modern social media and wellness is that we think that just because someone's got a lot of followers means they're good at what they do.' Instead, ask where someone trained, look for word-of-mouth recommendations, and trust your gut. 'Some people you'll feel safe with. Others you won't. That's okay.' As for his own wellbeing practice, Clements practises breathwork every day. 'I try to start each day with stillness and silence. So that could be just a simple unguided meditation for 10 to 30 minutes, just in silence. It might be more centred around the breath, it might be a guided meditation. I like to start from a slow pace to set the tone for the day. So that's that's a big thing for me and that's pretty close to being a non-negotiable.' He also trains in the gym, does Brazilian jiu-jitsu three or four times a week and occasionally opts for the saunas and cold water therapy that so many athletes and influencers in the wellness space rely on for focus, healing and recovery. 'But I'm not strict,' he says. 'I try to give my nervous system space to ebb and flow.' 'Tools like Whoop and Oura – they're a great tool, but a terrible master. If you've never been in touch with your body, they can help. But eventually, you have to learn to listen to yourself. We're all different. So I think if they work for people, then then great as long as they're not being led by them.' Ultimately, Clements hopes people come to see breathwork not as a quick fix or a trend, but as a tool for deeper connection. 'The nature of the practice is that it is innately accessible,' he says. 'I think that in part is why everyone's talking about it or everyone seems to be talking more about it. It's so accessible, but at the same time it can go to such depths that there's a lot of different things that we can do within this world of breath. 'I think that's the beautiful thing with this work. My goal with everybody that I speak to and work with is to make this an integrated better part of their life that stays with them. It's not a practice to be done, it's actually just a way of living that stays with you, that actually opens you up to a broader experience of life. '
Scottish Sun
an hour ago
- Scottish Sun
My mum's had 15 babies and now wants ANOTHER one at 58 – it's reckless & selfish… and I'm terrified it could kill her
Megan has good reason to worry about her mum's choice 'ENOUGH IS ENOUGH' My mum's had 15 babies and now wants ANOTHER one at 58 – it's reckless & selfish… and I'm terrified it could kill her SHE'S already given birth to a staggering 15 babies and Carole Horlock now wants to have another one at the age of 58. But her own daughter has slammed her "reckless" plan - saying: 'Mum's being selfish and she's too old.' Advertisement 10 Megan (right) with mum Carole Credit: Supplied 10 Carole has given birth to 15 babies and plans another Credit: John Alevroyiannis Megan Horlock, 31, who works in the NHS as an emergency worker, revealed she had a blazing row with mother Carole - the world's most prolific surrogate mum - as she fears having another baby for a childless couple may kill her. Carole has had 15 babies in total - two daughters, Megan and her sister Stephanie, and 13 babies for nine different couples. And she recently told The Sun she was 'broody' and was willing to defy doctor's orders to go through with another pregnancy. Advertisement But in a blistering interview, Megan, who spent her childhood seeing her mum pregnant 'almost all the time', hit back: 'Broody? I think Mum is being selfish to try to become a surrogate again. It's time she retired her uterus. 'I honestly can't believe she's trying again and is talking to doctors. 'She's too old. How many more last times can there be? 'When she announced she's coming out of retirement I was shocked and dismayed. 'As an emergency medical worker I see the best - but also the worst - outcomes in every possible type of scenario. Advertisement 'I worry for mum. She wants so badly to help others, but I said to her: 'The risks are too high. Don't do it. It's time you enjoyed your amazing achievements but also your well earned retirement. 'She said 'Let me have one last try'. She wants me to support her. She has spent her whole life feeling broody so I suppose it's no surprise that hasn't gone away. 'I told her 'you've been a wonderful mum as well as an amazing surrogate and I'm scared of losing you. Please don't sacrifice our family to give someone else one.' I'm the world's most prolific surrogate and want my 16th baby aged 58 - docs fear I could die this time but I'm not worried 'Mum told me she has unfinished business and she was sad when she didn't bond with the last surrogate family. It's her dream to have one more.' 'I replied: 'The price could be your life. This could kill you'. Advertisement Pregnant for 30 years Earlier this month The Sun revealed Carole, who is in perimenopause, has been in touch with fertility experts in Greece and Cyprus to see if she can conceive another child using IVF. 10 She gave birth to triplets for one couple in 2008 Credit: Collect 10 Carole with her daughters, Stephanie (left) and Megan (centre) Credit: Collect Doctors have previously warned her that having another baby could kill her - but Carole claims her body has never let her down. Carole, who has the Guinness World Record for being the world's most prolific surrogate, would also become Britain's oldest surrogate if she is successful at becoming pregnant and giving birth. Advertisement The oldest known surrogate in Britain is Pamela Butler who gave birth to her grandson aged 57 in 2010. Carole had her first surrogate baby - a little boy - in 1995. She went on to have twin girls in 1997 for the same couple and they continue to be close to this day. Baby four, in March 1998 was a girl for a couple who had suffered multiple miscarriages. Five was a little girl for a couple who already had a child with another surrogate. Baby six was a little girl who completed the family for the parents of baby number four. Advertisement Baby seven was a boy for a woman who had tried to have a baby for 23 years. When I was growing up I remember my mum being pregnant most of the time. Megan Horlock Next was a little girl - her eighth surrogate child - for a couple whose previous surrogate had kept the baby. Baby nine caused a public outcry, as the little boy turned out to be Carole's and her husband Paul's - but she still gave him away. Triplets came next, making up babies 10, 11 and 12 who were born after IVF and via a caesarean. While baby 13 was a little boy born in April 2012, again by caesarean. Risks of birth at 58 IT is possible for a woman to give birth at 58 but natural conception is extremely rare and most women of this age need IVF, often using donor eggs due to diminished ovarian reserve. Multiple previous pregnancies, especially with multiple births and multiple caesareans, significantly increase risks such as uterine rupture, placenta previa, and haemorrhage. Using donor eggs from a younger woman can reduce the risk of chromosomal abnormalities, such as Down's syndrome. But the risks of pregnancy complications – including gestational diabetes, pre-eclampsia, hypertension, and preterm birth – are significantly higher due to the mother's age. There are substantial risks. Older mothers also face a higher likelihood of requiring intensive care during or after delivery. The risks increase with each successive caesarean. NHS fertility treatment is only offered to women aged under 43. Many UK specialists may be reluctant due to the high medical risks involved but age limits may be more flexible abroad. Dr Sami Almusawa is a Fertility Consultant at Megan said: 'My first memory of Mum being pregnant with a surrogate baby was when I was four. Advertisement 'When I was growing up I remember my mum being pregnant most of the time. 'She was a single mum back then, working full time in a launderette, bringing me and Stephanie up single handedly whilst also being a surrogate. "She was like superwoman. For a lot of the pregnancies she worked until she was literally in labour. 'We were involved in everything. 'She'd tell us: 'The lady's tummy is broken so she's borrowing Mummy's tummy.' Advertisement 'In the evenings our favourite game was eating Maltesers while watching TV and we used to balance them on her belly and try to get the baby to kick it off. 'We'd follow the couples through the pregnancy journey and when she gave birth, I got to meet them and hold their child. 'Even at such a young age it was a fantastic experience because you saw each couple grow with excitement throughout the nine months. 'Then we got to see them with their baby afterwards and sometimes even watch the surrogate children grow up." 10 Carole with pictures of the many babies she had carried Advertisement 10 Stephanie and Megan grew up with their frequently pregnant mum Credit: The Press People Megan has stayed close to many of the kids her mother gave birth to. 'I have a WhatsApp group with some of them and we plan to meet," she says. "They were like cousins, but in reality as Mum donated her eggs for some of the pregnancies, some are my half-brothers and half-sisters biologically. 'I have always thought what Mum did was so special. Advertisement 'Now, as an adult I have even more admiration for what she's done and the families that she's made.' Pain over long lost brother Meghan was seven when Carole met her now husband Paul, now 71. She said: 'He is my dad. He became a part of our surrogacy journey too. There was more love in our home than many families experience. 'I wouldn't say I missed out on anything. I think my life was more full of love because of my mum doing this. 'I have always said maybe after I have my own family I'd like to be a surrogate one day. Advertisement 'But Mum has to know when to stop and enough is enough.' Megan revealed she does think of one of the babies more often than others - baby nine, a little boy who turned out to be Carole's and Paul's who they accidentally gave away. 10 Baby boy number nine was revealed to be the biological son of Carole and husband Paul Credit: Supplied 10 The last birth was a difficult one Credit: JK Press The mix-up came to light when the surrogate couple did a DNA test after the birth and discovered the child was not theirs. Advertisement Megan, who has a long-term partner and lives in Braintree, Essex, said: 'Mum and Paul did a lot of soul searching as Paul does not have biological children of his own, although I think of him as my dad. But they hadn't planned to have a child and so they decided to let them keep him. 'I do think of baby nine more than the other children, because we are estranged and he is my half-brother. 'I quite often wonder what he looks like, how he acts, the things he likes, what his personality is like. I wonder what he's up to, he might be at university. I wonder if he looks like me. 'I would love to meet him and I hope that he will make contact one day and I know Mum and Paul would love to meet him too.' 10 Megan says her mum is her best friend Credit: Supplied Advertisement 10 Carole loves being pregnant and helping other couples Credit: Collect Difficult birth Meghan revealed her concerns for her mum stem from being her birthing partner during her last labour in 2013. She said: 'The doctors decided to induce her because of her age and the risk of pre-eclampsia, rather than there being a pre-eclampsia developing, which Mum didn't agree with. 'Her body knows what it's doing. It was very difficult to watch my mum go through the pain of being induced, a caesarean and the recovery. 'She did admit that pregnancy did take more out of her than the previous ones because of her age. Advertisement 'Twelve years have passed since then and I think it's a lot later in life. 'It's going to be twice as hard as the last time and the risks to health during the labour are going to be higher. 'Having had two previous caesareans, it just increases the risk even more. It's a huge concern. 'Mum is my best friend. There is nothing she could ever do that would ever upset me enough to affect our relationship. 'As much as I have my personal views, ultimately I will support her through her decision and journey and be there for her. Advertisement 'I will go with her to the hospital even though I don't agree because I know what it means to her. 'I still believe people should be able to do what they want in life and be able to live how they want.' Last night Carole said: 'My daughter's feelings are very important to me, in fact they are everything. 'But I know my body and I'll be taking the best medical advice in the world to ensure my body can do this and see a pregnancy through. "I know my body but I won't let a couple down - so tests will confirm if this can go ahead. I'm confident I can do this.'
Daily Mail
an hour ago
- Daily Mail
I'm a shopping editor and this orthopaedic hybrid mattress is a must if you suffer with a bad back - and it's on sale right now
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