Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department is taking steps to reduce the use of out-of-area placements for young people in mental health inpatient services.

We recognise that for some children and young people, mental health inpatient services, will not be the most appropriate or practical way to meet their needs. The National Health Service’s overall strategy is therefore to reduce reliance on inpatient mental health beds and out-of-area placements for children and young people with serious mental illnesses.

The model of provision of NHS-funded inpatient treatment for children and young people is being reviewed and re-designed to support the move to a community-based provision, where children and young people can access appropriate support in a timely, effective, and patient-centred way, close to home and in the least restrictive environment.

This transition is being supported by the introduction of provider collaboratives to support place-based commissioning and to develop local services that meet the needs of their communities. Options may include increased day provision and the new model will see a change to how inpatient environments are best utilised.