The Mental Health (Care and Treatment) Scotland Act, which only cameinto effect last week despite being approved by the Scottish Parliamentin 2003, aims to reduce the number of child admissions onto adultpsychiatric wards by ensuring that as far as possible children are caredfor in a non-threatening age-appropriate environment with properlytrained staff.
But Sandra McDougall, legal officer for the Scottish Association forMental Health, said despite the two-year run up to the Act'simplementation, services for children remain limited.
"Provision is still very patchy - Scotland doesn't have dedicatedpsychiatric in-patient units everywhere and that is very disappointing.It's important the momentum isn't lost," she said.
But despite the gaps in provision, Eddie Fallon, head of policy forChildren in Scotland, said the act had already improved matters. "As aresult of the Act, there is a wholesale review of the provision and carefor the mental health of children and adolescents in Scotland.
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