More to do to ‘bridge the gap’ as children and young people transition to adult mental health services

Responding to a report by the Health Services Safety Investigations Body (HSSIB) which explores keeping young people safe when they move between mental health services due to reaching adulthood, the interim chief executive of NHS Providers, Saffron Cordery said:

"This report confirms there is much more to do to bridge the gap in supporting children and young people as they make the transition from inpatient children and young people’s mental health services to accessing adult mental health services.

"Against a mismatch of soaring and often more complex demand for mental health services and hugely stretched capacity, trust leaders and their teams will welcome calls for more joined up thinking across education, health, and social care to ensure children and young people can transition into adulthood safely and effectively.

"They will also back calls for mental health services to be better designed and commissioned to help children and young people as they move to adult services and for this to be supported by adequate funding.

"Alongside this, it’s vital more is done to help prevent children and young people becoming unwell and to support them at a much earlier stage. Investment in wider public services, particularly public health and social care is essential. It is critical that mental health stays at the forefront for national health leaders and policy makers, too."