Children still treated in adult psychiatric wards

Official statistics show children were treated in adult wards on 23 days in 2008/09.

The figure represents a large reduction on 2006/07 (191 days) and 2007/08 when there were (375  days).

However, it means a commitment made in November 2006, to stop children under 16 receiving treatment on adult wards within two years, has not been met.

Lucie Russell, director of campaigns at YoungMinds, acknowledged government effort to reduce numbers but said more needs to be done.

"The figures are going in the right direction but the number should be zero," she said. "Treating children on adult wards is completely inappropriate.

"They are not going to get the services they need and it can potentially make them very vulnerable."

The drive to address the issue of children being treated on adult wards received £31m in funding back in October 2007. That money went towards funding additional specialist beds within child and adolescent mental health services and a raft of initiatives to treat patients in the community.

A spokesman for the Department of Health said that by the end of 2008 no children under 16 were being treated on adult psychiatric wards. However, this changed in the first quarter of this year.

"In 2009 it is extremely disappointing that the commitment has been breached," the spokesman said.

"We are working with the trusts concerned to find out how this occurred and ensure it does not happen again. The appropriate place for vulnerable young children is in an environment which is designed for children and young people."

He added that preparations are well under way for the start of another commitment under the Mental Health Act 2007.

This will mean that by April 2010, hospital managers will have a duty to ensure patients aged under 18 are treated in an environment in hospital that is suitable to their age and needs.

Significant numbers of 16 and 17-year-olds are currently treated on adult wards. In 2008/09, 16- and 17-year-olds spent a total of 13,687 days on adult psychiatric wards. This compares to 17,028 days in 2007/08 and 18,667 days in 2006/07.