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Children
may still be on adult psychiatric wards
January
22, 2009
by Angela Hussain
.....
Adult
psychiatric wards may still be holding children under 16 - despite
a target to end the practice by November 2008
Steve Shrubb, director of the NHS
Confederation's Mental Health Network, which represents mental health
trusts, told Community Care magazine that some trusts may still
be admitting 15-year-olds to adult wards in "extreme extenuating
circumstances".
This
could include cases where the child was fully grown and considered
a physical threat to younger patients.
He said such scenarios were "very rare".
The Department of Health said it was too early to judge whether
the target had been met because figures were still being gathered.
The
new Mental Health Act, which came into effect in November last year,
stipulates there must be "age-appropriate" treatment for
16 and 17-year-olds on adult wards by April 2010.
See also:
Young people
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