Mentally ill young people in hospitals are being moved to inappropriate settings, such as hostels and holiday camp caravans when they turn 18 years old, an investigation has found, with some even being made homeless.
Other young people about to reach majority age admitted to hiding how unwell they were as they would rather “get out than go to an adult ward.”
Causing Anxiety
The present system is causing anxiety for patients, their families and carers, the HSSIB said, especially those working towards recovery who are “presented with an imminent move to a new provider and the unknowns that would entail”.Some of those who took part in the research said they had been moved to a new hospital on their 18th birthday, while others described how they feigned being well to avoid being moved onto an adult ward.
The report also sought the views of mental health staff, with some describing discharge on a patient’s 18th birthday as “inappropriate.”
A number of care providers told the HSSIB that children’s and young people’s services are overstretched, meaning that patients are required to transition to adult services at 18 to prevent bed blocking.
Craig Hadley, senior safety investigator at the HSSIB, said: “The report acknowledges that the delivery of mental health care is complex and services are routinely experiencing high demand.
‘Cliff Edge’
Sarah Hughes, chief executive of mental health charity Mind, said in a news release: “Mental health problems do not disappear on your 18th birthday, but too often the support does.“Young people, who are so unwell they are spending years of their lives in mental health hospitals and require round-the-clock care, face a cliff edge of support between children and adult services.
“Discharging a vulnerable 18-year-old who may lack the life skills needed to live independently, to a holiday caravan or bed and breakfast hostel, or even making them homeless, when only a day before they were eligible to receive 24/7 care, is unforgivable.”
Hadley said a more flexible approach would be safer and more beneficial for young patients and while some organisations are taking this approach, “they are not underpinned by a system that supports this.”
“The move from inpatient children and young people’s services to adult services currently happens at an already challenging time of life for young people and it should not be made harder for them, and their families,” he added.
“The reality is, the person did not change, their needs did not change, their risks did not change—the health, care and education system changed around them because they were a day older.”
Hughes said that the report comes at a time when mental health funding is “under severe threat” due to the government considering removing the Mental Health Investment Standard, which protects mental health funding.
She said this would be “catastrophic” for mental health care, and instead, urged Labour to commit to “a comprehensive offer for young people up to 25 in its new NHS 10-year-plan, with the necessary funding to deliver it.”
Reform Mental Health Act
A statement from the Department of Health and Social Care said it was grateful for the report, “which highlights important concerns that can help us to improve inpatient mental health services.”“Patient safety is paramount, and anyone receiving treatment in an inpatient mental health facility deserves safe, high-quality care, and to be treated with dignity and respect,” the statement added.
“The Government will reform the Mental Health Act, to ensure that people with the most severe mental health conditions receive better, more personalised treatment that is appropriate, proportionate, and compassionate to their needs.
“We will work also with the NHS to transform care and recruit 8,500 more mental health workers across children and adult services to reduce delays and provide faster treatment.”
