Inpatient census 2017: parts one and two

3. Children and young people (all patients aged under 18)

• 36 patients in the March 2017 census were aged under 18
• 13 patients were aged 15 or under, 23 were aged 16 to 17
• 34 out of 36 patients aged under 18 were in either a Children's Unit or Young Person's unit

This section of the report looks at patients in the Census aged under 18, regardless of whether they receive a Child & Adolescent Mental Health Service ( CAMHS). The total patient population is smaller than that described in other sections of the report, so information on young patients is presented at a high level only.

• There were 36 mental health, addiction or learning disability inpatients aged under 18 at the March 2017 Census. This compares with 55 in March 2016 and 50 at October 14.
• These patients were mostly treated in Regional Services located in NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde, NHS Lothian and NHS Tayside.
• There were 34 patients treated in a Children’s or Young People’s Unit. There were 54 available beds for these wards at the March 2017 Census date.
• 13 (36%) out of the 36 patients were aged 15 or under, 23 were aged 16 to 17.
• 97% of patients were seen by a consultant who specialised in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry.
• The average (median) number of days since admission at the time of the Census for young people was 46 days. This is 3 days less than in 2016.
• 21 patients aged under 18 (58%) had ‘formal’ status at the Census date. Patients who have been detained under the provisions of the Mental Health (Care and Treatment) (Scotland) Act of 2003 are defined as having ‘Formal’ status.
• 12 (33%) patients aged under 18 had a diagnosis of a behavioural syndrome. Other diagnoses were recorded for small numbers of patients. Patients can have more than one condition.