The call is included in a revised version of You're Welcome, the youngpeople-friendly quality assurance standards for health services. Therevisions mean the standards now also cover CAMHS.
The standards say CAMHS must be open at times and be located at sitessuitable for young people. Services must also offer young people thechoice of being seen alone, with a friend or family.
Tim McDougall, the department's former CAMHS adviser and nurseconsultant, said inviting a friend who had been through a similarexperience often made a major difference in treating young people withanorexia, for instance.
"For many years CAMHS have done things as they've always done them. Theyhaven't been flexible. So a young person inviting a friend to come withthem or seeing them in a different location is quite radical for theservice."
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