Youths in adult units but child beds available

Almost one in five children were admitted to adult psychiatric units last year even though beds were available in the child and adolescent services.

The Mental Health Commission found that 95 (19%) of the 501 child admissions last year were to adult units.

In 75% of admissions of children to an adult unit, there had been unsuccessful attempts to get an inpatient bed in the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS).