More than 120 children were placed in Scottish adult psychiatric wards in the past year, according to a new report from the Mental Welfare Commission.
More than 120 children were placed in Scottish adult psychiatric wards in the past year, according to a new report from the Mental Welfare Commission.
Legally, NHS boards are obliged to provide appropriate accommodation and care for those under 18, but the report to be published today raises serious concerns that this is still not happening.
In the past year there were 142 admissions of 122 young people, under the age of 18, to adult psychiatric wards. One of the children was just 12, and 27 were 15 or younger. In the case of at least one 16-year-old girl, the commission believes the health board in question acted illegally.
When the girl, referred to as Miss Y, went into psychiatric care she was just 16, still in school and in touch with her friends.
However, between December 2006 and August 2007, she spent most of her time in an adult psychiatric ward with little or no specialist services relevant to her age.
During her stay she was offered alcohol and drugs by adult patients and became a smoker. She had also given her mobile phone number to an adult male patient "who could have posed a risk to her". She lost touch with her friends and was not given support to continue her with her education.
The commission's investigation into her case found: "The consequences of this have the potential for significant and lasting damage to Ms Y's welfare and wellbeing."
There were 21 people aged 16 and 17 who had no specialist input to their care. Eight were in NHS Lanarkshire's area.
Donny Lyons, director of the commission, said: "The 2003 act requires NHS boards to provide appropriate in-patient accommodation and services for people under 18. In the case of Miss Y and in 20 other cases we found there was no age-appropriate care. This is not acceptable.
"Although some health boards have seen decreased admissions of young people to adult wards, others have seen an increase and they need to question why this is happening.
"At the moment, only about half of Scotland's NHS boards offer adolescent mental health services for people aged 16-17. The remainder either offer no service, or only offer services if the person is still attending school. It is hard to see how these arrangements meet with the legal duty placed on NHS boards to provide services and accommodation for individuals, under the age of 18, who need hospital treatment.
"We have asked all NHS boards in Scotland to review their provision in light of their legal obligations."
As a result of the report, the Scottish Government has recognised that specialist services for younger people should be available for those up to the age of 18 and plan to review the operation of adolescent mental health services across Scotland.
The health board which cared for Miss Y has also changed its policy. Some areas, including Greater Glasgow and Clyde, Tayside, Highland and Grampian, have made some progress on previous years but in the remaining areas admissions increased.
Kathleen Marshall, the Scotland's children's commissioner, said: "It is vital that young people with mental welfare care needs can access treatment and services that are appropriate."
The report praises NHS boards that have produced action plans to address the commission's recommendations.
