Mental health inpatient services short of beds

Mental health inpatient services for children and adolescents
are suffering form a shortage of emergency beds, according to a
survey carried out by the Royal College of Psychiatrists.

The survey, published in the Psychiatric Bulletin,
reveals one third of child psychiatrists are concerned about a lack
of emergency beds and facilities for young people with mental
health problems. One quarter said there was poor provision for
high-risk cases.

The college surveyed nearly 300 members of the college’s
child and adolescent faculty in England and Wales.