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People who need urgent mental health care in England are receiving inadequate support, regulators say.

The Care Quality Commission reviewed the help given to people in mental health crisis, which includes people who are suicidal, having serious panic attacks or psychotic episodes.

The report found that from 23:00 – 05:00, when mental health crises were most common, there was the least amount of provision.

Paul Lelliott, the CQC's deputy chief inspector of hospitals, said many hospital workers did not see mental health as the "core business" that it should be.

"Mental health problems can be a fatal health condition and should be treated as such," he said.

Paul Farmer, chairman of the Mental Health Task Force recently set up by NHS England, said: "Much of the NHS has historically seen mental health as solely the responsibility of mental health services."

People with mental health problems needed to be catered for "across the NHS", he added.