Children forced to travel hundreds of miles for NHS mental health treatment

The Guardian reported on figures showing that, despite a Government pledge to end the practice, many young people across the country are still being sent up to 285 miles away from home to receive mental health treatment.

Data from NHS England, gathered after a Freedom of Information request, shows that in 2017 – 2018, 1,039 under 18s were treated in a non-local bed. Patients from Canterbury were sent 285 miles away, while those from Cornwall travelled 258 miles.

NHS England has acknowledged that sending young people away from their families for treatment often hampers progress and has promised to create more local beds for inpatient treatment and end the practice.

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