A SWINDON patient had to spend almost two days in a police cell under the Mental Health Act because there was nowhere else for them to go.

Figures released after a Freedom of Information request show that in the past two years almost 200 people have been held in Wiltshire Police cells because there was no suitable healthcare provision.

The longest holding period was 37 and a half hours, while a 16-year-old was detained for eight hours.

Ninety-four people were detained in Swindon and Wiltshire in 2013 and in 2014 the figure was 95.

Dealing with those who have been detained under the Mental Health Act is the responsibility of the Avon and Wiltshire Mental Health Partnership (AWP) but when there is a shortage of beds police are asked step in.

Wiltshire Police has said its policy is not to put patients in cells but often there was no choice.

A spokesman said: “Last year Wiltshire Police signed the Crisis Care Concordat, which sets out shared national principals to bring together a multi-agency response to those in mental health crisis. The agreement was signed by the government, NHS providers, police forces and social care leaders.

“It specifically states that police officers should not have to consider using police custody as an alternative location if there is a lack of local mental health provision. However, in practice this does still occur but is rare and seen by police as a last resort.”

Police and Crime Commissioner Angus Macpherson was also critical of holding people in cells and said reports were drawn up to examine every case.

“People who are facing a mental health crisis need to be cared for by trained health professionals in safe and suitable accommodation,” he said.

“Too often they have ended up in police cells, which can be stressful for the individuals concerned.

“I am a member of the Health and Wellbeing Boards in both Wiltshire and Swindon and I promoted the Mental Health Concordat. I am pleased that Wiltshire Police are among the organisations that have signed up to it.

“The boards have agreed that they want a report on every instance when a person with mental health issues is held in police custody so that lessons can be learned from each case.”

The AWP accepted there was a problem but said the opening of a new unit at Southmead Hospital, in Bristol, would help.

A spokesman said: “To reduce the number of vulnerable people in extreme mental distress who are detained in police cells, we opened the four-place Place of Safety unit at Mason Ward, Southmead Hospital 12 months ago.

“The unit has been used by 1,000 people and we have received some great feedback. The Place of Safety unit is very well run and is nursing led with medical input. The nursing team focus on giving the service user the least traumatic experience possible and also address their physical health.”