Children in mental health crisis waiting up to three days in A&E for specialist bed in England
Summary
Children and young people in England facing mental health crises are often waiting up to three days in hospital emergency rooms before getting a bed in a specialist unit. NHS data shows these delays have increased, with many children experiencing distress and some needing sedation while waiting for care.Key Facts
- Children under 18 in mental health crisis sometimes wait up to three days in A&E (accident & emergency) departments before transfer to specialist units.
- The number of children waiting more than 12 hours for mental health admission has more than tripled from 237 in 2019 to 802 in 2025.
- Some NHS trusts in London and Cumbria reported waiting times of three days or more for mental health beds.
- Staff sometimes have to use medication to sedate children who become very distressed while waiting.
- The Royal College of Nursing called these delays a "catastrophic system-wide failure" of NHS mental health services for children.
- Nearly 500,000 children in England have sought emergency mental health help since 2019.
- Experts warn that mental health problems in young people are becoming more severe, with increased rates of self-harm and eating disorders.
- NHS England says it is expanding mental health services and providing 24/7 support through phone and school teams to reduce A&E visits.
Read the Full Article
This is a fact-based summary from The Actual News. Click below to read the complete story directly from the original source.