A mental health patient was held in a police cell for almost two days because there were no beds available at nearby hospitals , it has emerged . The patient is one of almost 200 people in Wiltshire held by the county 's police force in the last two years because there was no suitable healthcare provision . Meanwhile across the UK last year , 7,000 people with mental health problems ended up being held in police cells . Of those , 236 children and young people were detained alongside criminals . Mental health experts have branded the practice 'shameful ' , adding it highlights the fact there are not enough suitable crisis beds across the country . A mental health patient in Wiltshire was held in a police cell for almost two days because there were no suitable mental health hospital beds available ( file picture posed by model ) A Freedom of Information request , submitted by the Swindon Advertiser , reveals the longest holding period in the last two years was 37.5 hours , while a 16-year-old was detained for eight consecutive hours . Ninety-four people were detained in Swindon and Wiltshire in 2013 and in 2014 , the figure was 95 . Condemning the practice , which is seen across the country , Mark Winstanley , chief executive of mental health charity , Rethink Mental Illness , told MailOnline the situation must change . 'It 's scandalous and shameful that thousands of people with mental health problems , including children , are being locked up in police cells because they ca n't get the care they need , ' he said . 'That has to change , because it 's costing lives . 'The real problem is that there simply are n't enough suitable crisis services across the country , and where they do exist , they are badly underfunded and overstretched . 'We need much greater investment in crisis care , so that anyone experiencing mental health problems can get quality emergency support close to home , whenever they need it . 'We also want to see more funding for early intervention services , to help people avoid reaching crisis point in the first place . 'Without this urgent reform and investment , the mental health system will continue to fail people when they are at their most vulnerable . ' Dr Peter Carter , chief executive of the Royal College of Nursing told MailOnline the practice is just one of the 'detrimental consequences ' of severe cuts to mental health services . He said : 'Mental health trusts have had their budgets cut by eight per cent over the last five years , losing 1,500 beds and 3,300 nurses in the process . 'Given these ongoing reductions in funding resources it is no wonder that trusts are struggling to cope . Across the UK last year , 7,000 people with mental health problems ended up being held in police cells , according to mental health charity Rethink Mental Illness . 'Mental health services are under immense pressure , not just in Swindon and Wiltshire , but across the UK . 'The Government promised the equal treatment of mental and physical health but this situation has illustrated just how far this equality currently is from fruition . 'Nurses and other mental health professionals are working tirelessly to provide their patients with high standards of care , but without a rapid increase in funding , resources and understanding , some of the most vulnerable members of society will continue to be failed by the health service . ' The responsibility for caring for mental health patients in the county falls to the Avon and Wiltshire Mental Health Partnership . But when there is a shortage of beds , the police force has step in . Wiltshire Police told the Advertiser its policy is not to put patients in cells , but staff are often left with no other choice . A spokesman said the force signed the national Crisis Care Concordat last year , a national agreement between services and agencies involved in the care and support of people in crisis . He said : '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 . ' The AWP said the opening of a new unit at Southmead Hospital , in Bristol , would help prevent similar situations in future . A spokesman told the Advertiser : '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 . ' Mental illness accounts for 23 per cent of the total impact of ill health in the UK , but gets only 13 per cent of the NHS budget . In addition mental health trusts in England have seen their budgets fall by more than eight per cent in real terms over the course of this Parliament .
Almost 400 mental health patients detained in police cells in Wiltshire . Nationally , 7,000 mental health patients were detained in police cells last year . police brands labelled ' scandalous and shameful ' and called for change .