- FOIs to NHS trusts in England show some children and young people facing ‘barbaric’ waits of up to 3 days in A&E
- Royal College of Nursing (RCN) and Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health make joint intervention
Children and young people are being “unforgivably failed” say nursing staff, as new analysis shows around half a million presented to NHS emergency departments in a mental health crisis since 2019, with some now facing waits as long as 3 days before being transferred to a mental health unit.
Overall, waits of 12 hours or more for children in a mental health crisis more than tripled during the same period in NHS trusts in England, the research finds.
From Liverpool, on the third day of its annual congress, RCN General Secretary and Chief Executive Professor Nicola Ranger, warns the government’s new strategy will “die on the page if social determinants of mental health are not given parity, not just politically, but in pure investment terms too”.
The College says the government’s new mental health strategy must not just deliver parity of esteem between mental and physical health needs, but also address the social determinants of mental health in children and young people such as poverty, poor and insecure housing, social isolation, as well as unstable employment.
Professor Nicola Ranger, RCN General Secretary and Chief Executive, said:
“Half a million children and young people attending A+E in a mental health crisis is evidence of a catastrophic system-wide failure. Nursing staff give their all in the most difficult circumstances, but the fact is that busy and stressful A+Es are wholly unsuitable places for anyone in mental distress, let alone vulnerable children.”
“It's absolutely vital the government rapidly rolls out mental health emergency departments across the country to put a stop to these damaging and potentially traumatising A+E visits. Children and young people deserve appropriate treatment in a safe and dignified environment.”
In Wales, nursing leaders say similar pressures are being seen, with many children and young people in crisis still ending up in A&E because of gaps and inconsistencies in community mental health support, alongside concerns around waiting times, staffing pressures and access to timely care. Support also remains inconsistent across different parts of Wales.
However, Wales is also developing promising nurse-led alternatives to hospital admission. Welsh Government-backed initiatives, including sanctuary hubs, crisis outreach teams and youth mental health hubs, are providing open-access support in safer and more appropriate settings, helping prevent escalation to crisis point and reducing avoidable A&E attendance. These services now need sustainable funding, staffing and wider rollout across Wales.
RCN Wales Executive Director Nicola Williams said: “We are seeing a similar rise in mental health crises among children and young people. In response, in Wales we have developed nurse-led initiatives that provide effective alternatives to hospital admission, supporting young people in more appropriate and less restrictive settings. These approaches are already demonstrating positive outcomes. These need to be replicated, adequately funded and staffed and rolled out so they exist across the country.”
Tanya Thomas, Powys Teaching Health Board Lead for Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) Sanctuary Hwb, Crisis and Assertive Outreach Team, said: “Alternative to admission through Powys CAMHS crisis care matters deeply to me because it keeps young people safe, supported, and close to home at the point they are most vulnerable. In Powys, where we do not have a District General Hospital, children and young people in mental health crisis are often required to travel out of county to attend A&E - a journey that can increase distress and place additional strain on families.”
“This pilot service, currently funded until 31 March 2027, offers a compassionate, trauma-informed alternative by providing timely, person-centred support in safer, more appropriate settings. It reflects our shared commitment to working together, learning from one another and ensuring young people receive care that protects their dignity and supports their recovery.”
ENDS
Notes to Editors
RCN Congress takes place in Liverpool from Monday 18 May to Thursday 21 May. During the week, RCN members will network, hear from keynote speakers and take part in vibrant debates about the issues affecting the nursing workforce. They will also participate in an education and development programme and visit our exhibition. Find out more.
The Royal College of Nursing (RCN) is the voice of nursing across the UK, including around 35,000 members in Wales. The RCN promotes the interests of nursing and patients on a wide range of issues and helps shape health care policy.
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