The phrase “postcode lottery” is often bandied about, particularly in terms of the provision of health services within the UK. Those patients seeking access to NHS mental health services are the latest participants in this grim lottery, according to work carried out by the Royal College of Psychiatrists. They have crunched the numbers; the data itself mined from NHS Digital, and have come to the worrying conclusion that there is significant difference in the availability of access to acute mental health services and professionals right across the UK. For example,