The phasing out of unacceptable long-distance admissions for severely mentally ill patients and quicker access to acute psychiatric care are two key recommendations for improving services in England. The Independent Commission on Acute Adult Psychiatric Care was set up by the Royal College of Psychiatrists last January, in response to growing concern about the provision of acute in-patient psychiatric beds across the country. It found that access to acute care for severely ill mental health patients is ‘inadequate nationally’ and in some cases ‘potentially dangerous’. This is especially because there are ‘major problems’ both in admissions to psychiatric wards and in the provision of alternative care and treatment in the community. Five hundred mentally ill people have been admitted to hospitals over 50km away, largely because of no acute in-patient beds or suitable alternatives in their home area. Pray for an end to inequalities of care, hospital bed-blocking, and inadequate residential provision.