The Commission on Acute Adult Psychiatric Care has been set up by the Royal College of Psychiatrists (RCPsych) in response to widespread concerns about the provision of acute inpatient psychiatric beds and alternatives to admission available for patients.   There is evidence – some quantified, some anecdotal – of difficulties in admissions, variable services for patients in the community, long distance transfers of patients, high occupancy rates and high stress levels amongst patients, their families, carers and staff.