Hundreds of children and young people are forced to travel out of their local area for mental health treatment, according to the Royal College of Psychiatrists (RCP).
An analysis of NHS data by the RCP found 319 children and adolescents in England were sent out of their area for mental health treatment from December 2023 to November 2024.
These young people spent a total of 35,845 days away from their local area due to high demand and the shortage of Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) beds.
Dr Guy Northover, deputy chair of the RCP’ Child and Adolescent Faculty, said that while the figure had decreased by nearly 16% since 2022/23, it was still ‘unacceptably high.’
The RCP is calling on the Government to set a target date to end out of area placements in CAMHS across England.
‘At a time when these children are having to cope with a mental illness, the last thing they need is to be left isolated, lonely and unsupported,’ Dr Northover added.
‘It is also counterproductive as it will take longer for them to recover, lengthening their stay out of area and putting more pressure on overstretched services.’
