CYP Now - Majority of children treated 'out of area' for mental health emergencies

Seven out of 10 children and young people with severe mental health problems were admitted to hospitals outside of their areas last year, it has emerged.

Figures obtained by the British Medical Association (BMA) from NHS England under the Freedom of Information Act reveal that 69 per cent of child and adolescent admissions were classed "out of area" in 2016/17, up from 57 per cent the previous year.

The BMA has described the figures as "alarming", pointing to the fact that the NHS has said it intends to eradicate all inappropriate out of area admissions for children and young people by 2021.

BMA said analysis of the figures suggests that 3,817 young people were admitted for emergency healthcare in 2016/17, compared with 4,485 in 2015/16.

Gary Wannan, chair of the BMA committee on community care, said: "These figures show, alarmingly, that well over half of patients are being placed out of area at a time when they are at their most vulnerable.

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