Children still put on adult mental health wards, says charity

More than 250 children and adolescents were admitted to adult
psychiatric wards over 18 months despite government guidance
stating they should go to facilities appropriate for their age,
according mental health agency, writes Amy
Taylor.

The Mental Health Act Commission said it received 270
notifications of children and adolescents being admitted to adult
wards between April 2002 and September 2003.

Notification of admissions to the commission were voluntary and
figures were likely to be much higher, it said.

Children should only be detained on adult wards
“exceptionally”, according to the Mental Health Act
Code of Practice.

Only 42 per cent of service providers were able to confirm they
had a policy for admission of minors in inpatient care, said the
commission.

Also in one third of adult wards not all the staff in contact
with young people had been checked by police, it said.