11.07.14
NHS to increase bed provision for child mental health services
Urgent action is to be taken by NHS England to improve access to specialised inpatient mental health services for children and young people, including the provision of extra beds.
It comes after a new report found that demand for of NHS-funded child and adolescent mental health services (CAHMS) Tier 4 beds has increased from 844 in 1999 to 1,264 in January 2014 – a 49.7% increase in the last 15 years.
In particular, the report found that there were relative shortages in the South West and areas such as Yorkshire and Humber, resulting in patients being admitted to services a long way from home.
For England as a whole, though, the report says “it is impossible to conclude definitively whether the current level of bed provision is sufficient to meet the need”.
In response, NHS England will increase general CAMHS specialised beds for young patients – there will be up to 50 new beds around the country with further beds moved according to need; Between 10 and 20 new case managers working across the country responsible for ensuring that young people receive appropriate levels of care will be recruited; and improvements will be made in the way people move in and out of specialised care.
Norman Lamb, minister for care and support, said: “I want to build a fairer society where children get the mental health care they need, but the current system is too fragmented and pressurised.
“To address this we are taking immediate action by making more beds available and appointing a taskforce to improve commissioning and create more joined-up services for children and young people. I am absolutely determined to get this right so that children everywhere get high-quality care.”
In addition, a longer-term, strategic review of CAMHS services, will be carried out as part of NHS England’s wider work on specialised services. This will include further work with patients and their families. NHS England took on commissioning responsibility for tier four CAMHS services in April 2013. Previously they were commissioned by separate commissioning organisations.
Dr Martin McShane, NHS England’s director for people with long term conditions, said: “Too many children and young people have had to travel some distance from their homes to access specialised inpatient beds.
“We are committed to both addressing the more immediate problems, by increasing capacity, and to improving these services longer-term, together with our national partners. We want to ensure that we can provide sustainable, high quality care as near to patients’ homes as possible.”
Sarah Brennan, chief executive of the charity YoungMinds, stated that the report "lifted the lid" on big failings. And Saffron Cordery, director of policy and strategy at The Foundation Trust Network (FTN) added: “The additional 50 new beds for young people is a welcome step in the right direction but it remains to be seen if this is enough. NHS England must work closely with providers to understand where demand lies and how best to meet it.”
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