MPs slam 'deeply flawed' children's mental health system

A report published today by the health select committee concludes the problems with CAMHS are “broad” and run right through the system, from community-based early intervention to inpatient care, including a “fog” of accurate data on what services exist.

It has made a series of recommendations for changes that need to be implemented, many urgently, to ensure children are better served by services, and says it will revisit a number of the issues raised early next year to ensure action is being taken.

A "clear national policy directive for CAMHS, underpinned by adequate funding" is a priority it adds.

Public evidence sessions held by the committee in the summer had seen a number of children’s mental health campaigners raise concerns about access to inpatient care, which the committee said is resulting in young people’s safety “being compromised” while they wait for a bed to become available.

The shortage of beds in some parts of the country led to NHS England announcing £7m of funding to pay for 50 extra beds, but the committee said it was unclear whether this would be sufficient, and called for it to introduce an improved system of case management to ensure needs are being met.

The report states: “We recommend that NHS England should introduce a centralised inquiry system for referrers and patients, of the type in operation for paediatric intensive care services. We are disappointed that during its first year as a commissioner of inpatient services, many of the perceived benefits of national planning have not been realised.”

The committee said it was particularly concerned to hear of children being detained in police cells when experiencing a mental health crisis because “very few” mental health trusts provide a dedicated place of safety. It called for the Department of Health to set out measures on how it will end the “wholly unacceptable practice”. 

It is also concerned that local levels of spending on children’s mental health are not keeping pace with rising demand. It said many clinical commissioning groups are cutting community CAMHS budgets resulting in increased waiting times, rising thresholds to access services and “battles” over eligibility.  

A number of the recommendations are targeted at the government’s recently commissioned CAMHS taskforce, which is looking at what changes are needed to improve access to safe services in both the community and in hospital. It said this work should audit local authority early intervention services to ensure help is provided to children experiencing initial mental health problems.

Mental health campaigners unanimously backed the findings of the report.

Sarah Brennan, chief executive of charity YoungMinds, said: “The committee’s report proves beyond all doubt that children and young people’s mental health services are facing a major crisis.

“This report must be a pivotal moment in addressing this crisis. Our response has got to change – no longer can we sit back and pretend this isn’t happening.

“Every recommendation in the report is sensible and achievable but changing this dire situation will take political commitment and resources.”

Anna Feuchtwang, chief executive of National Children’s Bureau, said: "Sadly it will come as no surprise that the committee has found serious problems in the commissioning and provision of CAMHS across the country.
 
“All agencies need to fulfil their responsibilities to children in this area and we must not shy away from holding them to account. As the committee rightly points out, local authorities' role in public health should provide an opportunity to strengthen, not weaken their contribution.”