‘Inexcusable’ failures

TEENAGERS in great mental distress are still being admitted to adult psychiatric units despite commitments that the practice, described by professionals as “inexcusable, counter-therapeutic and almost purely custodial”, is being phased out.

Currently, no child under 16 should be admitted to adult units. By the end of this month, the age limit will extend to under-17s and by the end of 2011, to all young people under the age of 18.

That is the plan. However, we already know that, in the first nine months of this year, 120 children and adolescents under 18 were admitted to adult units — including 13 children under 16.