News

New Report: Children’s Commissioner Raises Concerns Over Under 18s In Adult Psychiatric Wards

8 October 2008

More resources are required to ensure that young people with mental health problems receive the care and services they need, Scotland’s Commissioner for Children & Young People said today (8 October) as new figures on the admission of under-18s to adult psychiatric wards were released. (1)

The Mental Welfare Commission for Scotland’s annual report points out that while NHS boards have a legal duty to provide services, including hospital accommodation, that is appropriate for under 18s, there is concern that young people are currently not receiving the type of care that they require. The report highlights the case of 16-year-old Miss Y who spent several months in a mixed-sex adult psychiatric ward with little or no input from specialist services for younger people. (2)

The Commission’s findings echo last week’s five-yearly report from the UN on children’s right in the UK, which highlighted the need for additional resources for age-appropriate mental health services. (3)

Kathleen Marshall, Scotland’s Commissioner for Children & Young People, said, “It’s vital that young people with mental welfare care needs can access treatment and services that are appropriate. This means reducing admissions to adult wards and providing more specialist support for those who are admitted to adult wards. It also means making sure that the often troubled young people in children’s secure units are able to access mental heath assessment and adolescent facilities where that would be more appropriate and helpful for them.

“The recent UN report on children’s rights noted that while 1 in 10 children in the UK have a mental health problem, only around a quarter of them have access to the required treatment and care. If we are to help what must be one of the most vulnerable groups in society, prevent further illness and tackle social exclusion, there must be a firm commitment to allocate the necessary resources.”

ENDS

For further information or to arrange an interview with Kathleen Marshall, please call Esther Black at Pagoda PR on 0131 556 0770.

Notes to editors

1. The Mental Welfare Commission’s annual report identifies 142 admissions of young people under the age of 18 to non-specialist services. Over 90% of these admissions (134) were to adult psychiatric wards.
For more information on the Mental Welfare Commission report and media release, please contact Anita Wiseman, Communication Manager, Mental Welfare Commission for Scotland on 0131 222 6192 or 07708 873416 or e-mail anita.wiseman@mwcscot.org.uk

2. See p23 of Annual Report pdf.

3. See paragraph 57 of the report here: http://www2.ohchr.org/english/bodies/crc/docs/AdvanceVersions/CRC.C.GBR.CO.4.pdf