Lack of beds for mentally-ill kids

THE number of mentally-ill children treated in non-specialist wards in Scotland has risen, figures show.

The lack of psychiatric care facilities in Scotland has been blamed after almost 100 incidents of children and young people being admitted to nonspecialist adult wards, some containing criminals.

A report by the Mental Welfare Commission for Scotland shows there were 98 admissions to intensive care psychiatric units (ICPUs) designed for adults, while another five were into general paediatric wards.

After two years of falling, these figures – involving 90 children – show an increase from the 71 admissions involving 66 young people in the previous year.

The country has just three specialist units for inpatient treatment for children and young people, however, Skye House in Glasgow covering the west of Scotland, the Young People’s Unit in Edinburgh for the east, and Dudhope House in Dundee, which takes patients from the north of Scotland.

Commenting on the “disappointing” increase, Colin McKay, chief executive of the Mental Welfare Commission, said: “We believe the rise may reflect capacity issues within the mental health system as a whole.

“We are also very concerned about the continued lack of intensive psychiatric care facilities in Scotland for children and young people, something we have raised for several years.

“Adult intensive care psychiatric units can often be unsuitable environments for adolescents.

“They are specialised environments for adults who are very unwell and present with high risk to themselves or others.”

A Scottish Government spokeswoman said: “We welcome this annual report from the Mental Welfare Commission, which will help us in our work to redesign and improve services for children and young people.”