Age-Appropriate Care Makes The Bill

Hospital managers will have a duty to ensure all children receiving treatment for a mental disorder are placed in an environment “suitable for their age” following Parliament’s approval of the Mental Health Bill.

The Bill, which was passed by Parliament on 4 July, stipulates children should be treated in an environment that is “geared to meet their needs”. It also requires specialists in child mental health to be consulted when determining an age-appropriate environment. Primary care trusts will be obliged to provide such an environment and children’s cases will be automatically referred to a tribunal after a year.

Kathryn Pugh, head of policy at the charity YoungMinds, said: “The Bill acknowledges that children have different needs and it sends a signal to primary care trusts that it is necessary to consider the needs of the child. We’re delighted that the Bill recognises the need for children to be treated in an age-appropriate environment.”

She added this would bring an end to children being treated in “inappropriate” adult settings. Pugh also welcomed provisions in the Bill that would give extra protection for young people who were being considered for electro-convulsive therapy. “The Bill is a commitment to provide children with care that meets their needs – what we need now is a tight implementation framework,” she said.

Sue Bailey, registrar at the Royal College of Psychiatrists, said the Bill would ensure children received the “right sort of assessment”. “Child psychologists should be involved in an assessment of children and we will be working with the Government on the workforce implications,” she said.

Steve Shrubb, director of the NHS Confederation, said the Bill’s approval ended months of uncertainty. “We particularly welcome the concessions made during the passing of the Bill on the right to advocacy, ensuring that new safeguards are in place for people receiving electro-convulsive therapy and the creation of a better environment for children,” he said.

Health minister Ivan Lewis said the Government would begin a public consultation this autumn on “regulations to underpin the legislation”. “I look forward to implementing these changes within the wider framework of investing in and improving mental health services – we will look to do this in partnership with the many stakeholders in mental health services, and with service users and their representatives,” he said.

He added that the Bill was “good for the patients, their families and for the public generally – the Bill will also make it easier for patients with personality disorders get the treatment they need”.