Inpatient census 2022: parts one and two

5. Children and Young People treated in NHS Scotland facilities (additional detail)

• 46 patients in the 2022 Census were aged under 18
• 26 patients were aged 15 or under, 20 were aged 16 to 17
• 45 of 46 patients aged under 18 were in either a Children's Unit or Young Person's unit

This section 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 so information is presented at a high level only.

• There were 46 mental health, addiction or learning disability inpatients aged under 18 at the 2022 Census, compared with 52 in 2019, 57 in 2018, 36 in 2017, 55 in 2016 and 50 in 2014.
• These patients were mostly treated in Regional Services located in NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde, NHS Lothian and NHS Tayside.
• 37 (80%) patients aged under 18 were referred by a Community Mental Health Service.
• There were 45 (98%) patients treated in a Children’s or Young People’s Unit. There were 54 available beds for these wards at the 2022 Census.
• 26 (57%) patients were aged 15 or under, while 20 (43%) were aged 16 to 17. Of the patients aged under 18, 40 (87%) were female.
• 98% 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 was 34 days. This is 17 days shorter than the 2019 Census. Around 1 in 3 (30%) children and young people had been in hospital for less than 2 weeks at the 2022 Census.
• 29 (63%) patients under 18 had a diagnosis of a behavioural syndrome, while 17 (27%) had a diagnosis of depression and 9 (14%) had an autistic spectrum disorder. Other diagnoses were recorded for small numbers of patients. Patients can have more than one condition.