A CHRONIC shortage of staff and beds are leaving already stretched mental health services at crisis point, medical experts warned yesterday.

The Royal College of Psychiatrists said a reduction in both community mental health services and beds coupled with a rise in demand is failing those with the most serious problems.

New figures show that the number of acute inpatient beds for adults with mental health problems in England and Wales fell by 15 per cent between 2012-13 and 2015-16.