Children Detained in A&E: Hours-Long Waits Under Mental Health Act
- Here's a breakdown of the key facts from the provided text, focusing on the issues surrounding detained children with mental health crises in England and Wales:
- * A&E as a "Place of Safety": A meaningful number of children detained due to mental health distress are taken to Accident & emergency (A&E) departments.
- Jayne Erlam (Liverpool John Moores University): The author of the research, highlighting the issues and advocating for more research.
Here’s a breakdown of the key facts from the provided text, focusing on the issues surrounding detained children with mental health crises in England and Wales:
Key Findings & Issues:
* A&E as a “Place of Safety”: A meaningful number of children detained due to mental health distress are taken to Accident & emergency (A&E) departments. Between 2017-2021, three-quarters were taken to A&E. In 2023, 83% of detained children in one northern constabulary went to A&E.
* Long Waits: Children frequently enough face extremely long waits in A&E – averaging 18.5 hours under police guard in one recent study, with some waiting over 13 hours in a corridor for assessment.
* Inappropriate Habitat: A&E departments are described as chaotic, public, and unsuitable for individuals experiencing mental health crises. The lack of privacy (often just a curtain for separation) is particularly concerning, especially for those disclosing sensitive information like past abuse.
* Disparity in Care: Younger detained children (presumably those under 16) are less likely to be taken to specialist mental health suites and are more frequently enough sent to A&E. Older children (16+) who can access adult facilities are more likely to receive care in specialist suites.
* Police Burden: A lack of adequate mental health and social care provision is leading to increased reliance on police to manage individuals in mental distress. Police officers themselves express concerns about using A&E as a place of safety.
* Data Gaps: Data collection is incomplete.While there were 1,561 detentions of children in england and Wales ending March 2024, the data doesn’t show how many were taken to A&E, highlighting the need for more complete research.
* Lack of Beds: Dr. Alex thomson of the Royal College of Psychiatrists points to a “significant lack of mental health beds” as a major contributing factor to the delays and inappropriate placements.
Key People/Organizations:
* Dr. Jayne Erlam (Liverpool John Moores University): The author of the research, highlighting the issues and advocating for more research.
* Dr.Alex Thomson (Royal College of Psychiatrists): Emphasizes the lack of mental health beds as a core problem.
* Police Officers: Their direct quotes reveal their frustration and concerns about the situation.
In essence, the article paints a picture of a system struggling to cope with the mental health needs of children, resulting in vulnerable individuals being placed in unsuitable environments with significant delays in receiving appropriate care.