Legal News
Seven out of ten children with mental health issues are treated away from their local area (18 May 2017)
Date: 18/05/2017
NHS figures have revealed that seven out of ten children with serious mental health issues are treated outside of their home area.
A British Medical Association (BMA) investigation has found that in 2016/17, approximately 69% of young patients were admitted to hospitals away from their local region – an increase of 12% from the previous year. The figures were obtained from NHS England in a freedom of information request by BMA News.
Some adolescents have reportedly been sent hundreds of miles away from their homes for with some teenagers and young adults with eating disorders being sent to Scotland due to chronic bed shortages meaning they were not able to receive care in England.
The BMA’s community care committee chairman, Dr Gary Wannan, has expressed concern at children and teenagers being treated far from their homes at such a vulnerable time. He explained: “It can be an incredible wrench for children to leave their homes and being based far away is not going to help a young person in crisis.” Meanwhile, Dr Ranga Rao, who is the
Royal College of Psychiatrists’ national lead for acute patient in-care has explained that sending patients away from their local area for care, if not in their best interests, “can have a negative impact on their recovery”.
Duncan Lewis Mental Health Solicitors
Duncan Lewis is the UK’s largest provider of Legal Aid mental health services and can advise mental health patients on a wide range of issues – including access to NHS mental health services and detention under the Mental Health Act. Duncan Lewis mental health solicitors regularly visit NHS hospitals to advise on mental health law – and are available across England and Wales at short notice for hospital and police station appointments.
In some cases, Duncan Lewis mental health solicitors may be able to advise the nearest relative or carer of a mental health patient on a range of issues, including initiating treatment reviews where appropriate.
For expert legal advice on mental health law, call the Duncan Lewis Mental Health Solicitors Helpline on 020 3114 1124.