PARLIAMENTARY WRITTEN QUESTION
Mental Health Services: Children (1 June 2022)

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many children have died while (a) detained under the Mental Health Act and (b) in a mental health setting as a voluntary patient who were (i) patients held in NHS settings and (ii) NHS patients held in settings run by private providers in each year from 2016 to 2022.

Asked by:
Dr Rosena Allin-Khan (Labour)

We are unable to provide the information requested due to the low numbers involved in each year which could lead to the identification of individuals. However, information notified to the Department by NHS England and NHS Improvement shows that there were 21 deaths of children and young people in inpatient settings in National Health Service organisations between 2015/16 and 2021/22 and seven in independent healthcare organisations. This information does not record whether those individuals were detained under the Mental Health Act 1983 or in the care of a mental health setting as a voluntary patient.

When the Department is informed by NHS England of any such death, the Care Quality Commission is immediately notified, which reviews the information and determines its regulatory response. The National Confidential Inquiry into Suicide and Safety in Mental Health is also notified, which records all cases of inpatient deaths among adults and children and young people. These cases are routinely analysed and the Inquiry makes recommendations on preventative measures.

Answered by:
Gillian Keegan (Conservative)
5 July 2022