scholarly journals Distribution and characteristics of in-patient child and adolescent mental health services in England and Wales

2003 ◽  
Vol 183 (6) ◽  
pp. 547-551 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anne O'Herlihy ◽  
Adrian Worrall ◽  
Paul Lelliott ◽  
Tony Jaffa ◽  
Peter Hill ◽  
...  

BackgroundLittle is known about the current state of provision of child and adolescent mental health service in-patient units in the UK.AimsTo describe the full number, distribution and key characteristics of child and adolescent psychiatric in-patient units in England and Wales.MethodFollowing identification of units, data were collected by a postal general survey with telephone follow-up.ResultsEighty units were identified; these provided 900 beds, of which 244 (27%) were managed by the independent sector. Units are unevenly distributed, with a concentration of beds in London and the south-east of England. The independent sector, which manages a high proportion of specialist services and eating disorder units in particular, accentuates this uneven distribution. Nearly two-thirds of units reported that they would not accept emergency admissions.ConclusionsA national approach is needed to the planning and commissioning of this specialist service.

2003 ◽  
Vol 183 (06) ◽  
pp. 547-551 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anne O'Herlihy ◽  
Adrian Worrall ◽  
Paul Lelliott ◽  
Tony Jaffa ◽  
Peter Hill ◽  
...  

Background Little is known about the current state of provision of child and adolescent mental health service in-patient units in the UK. Aims To describe the full number, distribution and key characteristics of child and adolescent psychiatric in-patient units in England and Wales. Method Following identification of units, data were collected by a postal general survey with telephone follow-up. Results Eighty units were identified; these provided 900 beds, of which 244 (27%) were managed by the independent sector. Units are unevenly distributed, with a concentration of beds in London and the south-east of England. The independent sector, which manages a high proportion of specialist services and eating disorder units in particular, accentuates this uneven distribution. Nearly two-thirds of units reported that they would not accept emergency admissions. Conclusions A national approach is needed to the planning and commissioning of this specialist service.


2010 ◽  
Vol 34 (5) ◽  
pp. 195-199
Author(s):  
Barry Wright ◽  
Chris Williams ◽  
Marcella Sykes

SummaryThis paper reports on the last 8 years in the development of a child mental health learning disability service. The growth, challenges and pitfalls faced by the service are charted here. The paper also shows how a service can cope with rising demand without the development of waiting lists and how a specialist service can be embedded within a generic child and adolescent mental health service (CAMHS) as a tier 3 team, thus creating synergies and commonalities of purpose, while avoiding service gaps that inevitably arise from separate services with specific referral criteria. This is a healthy service model that meets the needs of local children with moderate to severe intellectual disabilities and concomitant child mental health problems.


2005 ◽  
Vol 11 (1_suppl) ◽  
pp. 53-55 ◽  
Author(s):  
Annmarie Grealish ◽  
Andrew Hunter ◽  
Robin Glaze ◽  
Louise Potter

Videoconferencing equipment was set up in Scotland in response to the increased pressure faced by the child and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS), and the need for specialist services to be accessible to, and harmonize with, ‘mainstream’ health services. Three sites were linked to the inpatient service in Edinburgh. Data were collected via questionnaires and diary logs. During a 24–month study, a total of 65 adolescents were admitted for inpatient care, of whom only five had their cases reviewed and monitored in a total of 20 teleconsultations. Adolescents and their carers involved in the study expressed great satisfaction with telemedicine and were keen to use it. Clinicians were resistant to telemedicine, with consequently low levels of utilization. Our results suggest that managers may be unwilling to reallocate funding away from staffing, even where these costs are small and represent considerable improvements in the process of care for patients. Widespread integration of telemedicine to CAMHS is likely to be hard to achieve.


2000 ◽  
Vol 24 (7) ◽  
pp. 258-260 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tara Weeramanthri ◽  
Francis Keaney

Aims and MethodWe surveyed 25 general practitioners (GPs) on their needs from their local child and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS) to improve liaison and inform service development.ResultsMost GPs refer to specialist services. Only a quarter deal with problems themselves. The top priority was easy and quick access to services. The most popular topics for GP training were interactions between teenagers and their parents, child abuse and eating disorders. No GP had formal training in child and adolescent psychiatry and further training was a low priority.Clinical ImplicationsSuch a survey has helped to develop a closer partnership between GPs and their local CAMHS using a service–response model. It has raised concerns about the under-identification of child mental health problems. It has informed CAMHS of the service and training needs of local GPs.


1998 ◽  
Vol 22 (8) ◽  
pp. 487-489 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sophie Roberts ◽  
Ian Partridge

Long waiting lists are a common problem in child and adolescent mental health services. We describe how referrals to the service in York are considered and allocated by a multi-disciplinary team. The criteria for allocation to different professionals and specialist teams are described and data representing a snapshot of referrals and response rate over a three-month period presented, showing that most referrals are seen within two months. We postulate that consideration of referrals in this way is an effective and efficient way of running a service.


2003 ◽  
Vol 20 (2) ◽  
pp. 52-55 ◽  
Author(s):  
Julie Manderson ◽  
Noel McCune

AbstractObjectives: To assess the health and social functioning of patients attending a Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS) and to measure the impact of attendance using the Health of the Nation Outcome Scales for Children and Adolescents (HoNOSCA).Method: HoNOSCA was completed on 73 consecutive patients attending for initial assessment with a review assessment being completed after six months or at discharge from the clinic if this occurred sooner on 53 of these. The impact of attendance at the clinics was determined by comparing initial and review mean HoNOSCA Scores.Results: Of the 53, 66% were male and 34% female. Boys were more highly rated with regard to aggressive behaviour, performance in peer relationships and family life relationships whilst girls were rated as having more nonorganic and emotional symptoms. Older children showed the highest rates of poor school attendance, non accidental (self) injury and emotional problems while younger children showed the greatest aggressive behaviour and language skill problems. An improvement in the total HoNOSCA score from initial assessment to review was seen in 92%. There was an improvement in the HoNOSCA mean score from initial assessment to review.Conclusions: Age, sex and symptom profiles of patients attending the service were similar to other CAMHS. Attendance at CAMHS produces improvements in patient outcomes over a six month period as measured using HoNOSCA, which proved to be a useful if somewhat time consuming tool.


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