CHARITIES and organisations that provide specialist care and education services for children with complex needs have called for more provision for youngsters with mental health conditions to receive inpatient treatment in Scotland.
The Scottish Children's Services Coalition welcomed the announcement of an extra £15 million for NHS services for people with psychological illness, with the money expected to go towards hiring more staff to help children in need.
The coalition said it was heartening that the Government was taking steps "to protect our most vulnerable citizens".
But it also criticised the lack of secure inpatient provision for children and young people with mental health conditions.
Sophie Pilgrim from the Scottish Children's Services Coalition said: "This means vulnerable children and young people are being treated in unsuitable adult or paediatric wards, or being sent miles away from their families to England for treatment.
"This practice is clearly a relic of outdated attitudes towards mental health and is a major concern for any organisation upholding the rights of the child in Scotland."
A total of 3,400 children and young people started treatment with mental health services between April and June this year, according to official figures. More than one in 10 had waited more than six months to be seen.
Michael Matheson, minister for public health, said the extra money would help people get better support at an early stage of their illness.
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