Children are still driven far from home for mental health care in England | Mental health

Children and young people in England with serious mental health problems are still driven for treatment many kilometers of their houses because bed shortages remain so serious in some areas, despite a promise to end such practices eight years ago.

NHS England promised in 2017 to stop forcing very troubled young people under the age of 18 to leave family and friends after some received more than 300 miles from where they lived.

“We are committed to terminating the need for children and young people who travel long distances for the right care,” said Claire Murdoch, NHS England’s national director of Mental Health, at the time.

However, the latest data shows that the practice continues. Between December 2023 and November 2024, 319 children and adolescents were admitted to non-local beds.

In total, the children brought 35,845 days away from home – classified as inappropriate from placing the placement of bed days – as a result of care that was not available locally, according to a data analysis of the Royal College of Psychiatrists (RCP).

Experts say that sending seriously mentally unwell children to units far from home can be painful for them, reduces their chances of recovery and increases their risk of self -harm.

Some have complex psychological problems that already include an increased risk of self -harm or suicide, such as serious depression, eating disorders, psychosis or personality disorders.

Dr. Guy Northover, the deputy chairman of the child and the Faculty of the RCP, said: “It is unacceptable that sick and extremely vulnerable children and young people with a mental illness are still sent for miles from their families and friends, sometimes for months, simply because because They need treatment that is not available as a community care or within a local intramural setting.

“One child who is sent away from home almost every day is simply unacceptable. At a time when these children have to enter into a mental illness, the last thing they need is isolated, lonely and not -supported. It is also counterproductive because it will take longer before they recover, extend their stay from the neighborhood and exert more pressure on overloaded services. This practice can also put parents and caregivers under enormous pressure when they are already overwhelmed. “

The daughter of Rachel Bannister, who received an eating disorder in 2014, was sent to various hospitals far from her house in Nottingham, including one in Scotland, 315 miles away, where she spent six months, including during Christmas.

“The whole family was destroyed when she left,” said Bannister. “I felt that my heart was torn and I had failed her. We are all still processed the trauma, many years later. “

While they were separated, telephone conversations revealed the desires of the 15-year-old to simple gestures such as a hug or a shared walk in the park. “It was heartbreaking for us not to be able to meet those basic needs,” said Bannister.

The lack of consistency in her care “had influenced enormously,” said Bannister. “Years later, the challenges remain. It is essential to leave from inappropriate and disturbing placements and to embrace compassionate approaches within communities instead. “

Olly Parker, the head of external matters at Youngminds, a mental healthy charity for children, said: “Besides the placements are expensive for the NHS, which cost more money than when support was available in the local community of the young person. It is unacceptable that this still happens, especially after years of promises to stop, and a sign that the system is under pressure.

“The government must increase mental health care capacity in the community and ensure that young people have access to support much earlier, to prevent them from becoming more unwell. This will better take care of young people for young people who are closer to home, and save the NHS money. “

A spokesperson for NHS England said: “It is unacceptable that patients are treated away from Huis-NHS England has committed itself to eliminating outside the area and supports systems throughout the country to meet this ambition.”

The NHS dealt with record numbers of children, added, and had published plans about how mental health was given priority.

A spokesperson for a Ministry of Health and Social Care said: “Young people with psychological problems do not receive the care they need where they need it.”

Long wait was normalized, the spokesperson added, and the government worked to give children the support they needed earlier.