New NHS inpatient quality taskforce for children and young people...

Charlotte Ramsden, Chair of the ADCS Health, Care and Additional Needs Policy Committee, said:

“Timely access to high quality, appropriate support for children and young people with mental health needs, autism and learning disabilities can make a huge difference to their health and wellbeing and that of their families too. Children who require inpatient services have very complex needs requiring intensive support which is why we welcome this new taskforce to help improve the support for, and experiences of, this vulnerable cohort. We particularly welcome the commitment to make these arrangements more joined up with schools and councils.

“Due to extremely limited availability of the right specialist child and adolescent mental health provision there can be delays in accessing appropriate support and therapeutic intervention and all too often placements are far from home so we are pleased to see closeness to home as a key area of focus here. We welcome the proposals set out in the NHS Long Term Plan for children with autism and learning disabilities but it is disappointing the Plan has not brought into scope the needs of young people with other additional needs and disabilities. And for children with low level mental health needs, it remains the case that there are lengthy waiting times to access support. We look forward to engaging with the Taskforce going forward and help shape its recommendations to enable us all better meet the needs of children and young people.”

ENDS

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