Great shortage of care places in psychiatry for young people - admitted to the adult department

After Region Sörmland closed down its own inpatient care places for children in 2008, patients were sent abroad and mainly bought care from Region Västmanland and Östergötland at a cost of approximately SEK 30,000 per day of care.

But during last autumn, inpatient care places had to be found as an emergency solution, as it was almost fully occupied throughout the country.

The solution was to place the children in a separate section within adult psychiatry.

- It was impossible to get hold of a care place, says Sofia Mossfeldt, director of operations for BUP Sörmland.

In the ward, a locked door separates the child patients from the adults.

It does happen, however, that the parents collect food for the children behind the locked door.

"We had to train the staff"

Scorching criticism from parents who had their children at the ward in Nyköping.

Photo: SVT Design

Region Sörmland did a children's impact analysis shortly after the children's places were opened.

It shows that parents have been critical of the care their children have received.

The parents said, among other things:

"The staff had no training [in] caring for children and young people, they also lacked training and conditions for effective treatment of the disease my child suffers from (anorexia nervosa)."

"I didn't feel safe as I, as a parent, knew more and had to direct the treatment."

- Of course, it doesn't feel good for parents to have that experience.

But since the places were opened urgently, we have had to arrange the training efforts afterwards.

It is not fun to hear the parents' experience.

But I assure you that the staff did everything they could to provide the best possible care, says Sofia Mossfeldt.

Fixed flaws

Following the criticism, the region has implemented several measures.

- We have nursing staff on site together with a care coordinator.

There are significantly more things to do in the ward and the environment has become less sterile.

We have really tried to improve the areas where we saw that there were shortcomings, says Mossfeldt.

Could be a change in the law

A government investigation suggested this summer that children who are in compulsory care may not be placed with adults - unless it is judged to be in the child's best interests.

The proposal is now out for referral, including with the Children's Ombudsman.

- Our concern is when children are placed among adults due to cost-saving reasons, we cannot have that, says Children's Ombudsman Elisabeth Dahlin.

Do a new analysis

The region will continue to have the inpatient care places for children in the adult ward until January, then the need will be reviewed.

At the end of October, a new child impact analysis must be carried out.

- We will look at occupancy rate, costs and how the situation looks with our partners in Västerås and Linköping, says Sofia Mossfeldt.