Abstract

In 1986 the report Bridges over Troubled Waters (NHS Health Advisory Service, 1986) stated quite categorically that patients under the age of 16 should not be treated in adult psychiatric wards. The National Association for Children in Hospital has also worked tirelessly against children and adolescents being treated in adult hospital wards, although this has mainly concerned the paediatric, medical and surgical fields. However few guidelines were laid down about the function of psychiatric units for children and adolescents when the majority of such units were first being established in the late 1960s and early 1970s. Indeed in the circular from the Ministry of Health (1964) about the need for such units it was stated that some adolescent patients could suitably be treated in adult wards. However no age limits were specified in the circular. There have been no specific guidelines issued subsequently by the Department of Health about the use of adult psychiatric beds for adolescents.

Highlights

  • This study is an attempt to define the character istics of the patients, the reasons for transfer to an adult ward and the effect of that experience on the young person

  • This arrange ment has made it possible to carry out a retrospective case-note study of those patients who have been turnaints'sfererxeidstetnocea.duAltllwtahreds,caosvee-nrotthees 2o1fyethaers yoofutnhge people transferred to adult wards who were patients of the adolescent unit consultants were studied

  • In formation on age, sex, psychiatric diagnosis, length of stay both on the adolescent unit and the adult ward, reasons for transfer stated in the notes, effect on behaviour and mental state of the patient, type of adult ward, and use of the mental health act child care legislation was collected

Read more

Summary

Audit in practice

Patients transferred from a regional adolescent unit to adult wards within the same hospital. In 1986 the report Bridges over Troubled Waters (NHS Health Advisory Service, 1986) stated quite categorically that patients under the age of 16should not be treated in adult psychiatric wards. In the circular from the Ministry of Health ( 1964)about the need for such units it was stated that some adolescent patients could suitably be treated in adult wards. For all children and the vast majority of young adolescents it is desirable that any in-patient psychiatric treatment they require is carried out in the context of specialist child and adolescent units. Addition ally it seems likely that some extremely disturbed and ill adolescents will have to be nursed on adult secure wards because of the lack of suitable secure psychiatric adolescent units nationally. This study is an attempt to define the character istics of the patients, the reasons for transfer to an adult ward and the effect of that experience on the young person

The study
Findings
Ward For some adolescents a move to the secure ward
Full Text
Paper version not known

Talk to us

Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have

Schedule a call

Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.