Innovations in Practice: The impact of the development of a CAMH Intensive Treatment Service and service redesign on psychiatric admissions.

Background: In 2006, the Scottish Government made a commitment to reduce admissions of young people to adult psychiatric wards. This study investigates the impact of a Child and Adolescent Mental Health (CAMH) Intensive Treatment Service (ITS) and service redesign on psychiatric admission rates.

Method: Referral data were obtained for the first year of the ITS, between 23 April 2010 and 1 April 2011. Data on psychiatric admission rates were obtained up until 30 June 2011.

Results: Median length of adolescent inpatient stay reduced from 28 to 15 days and admissions of young people to adult wards significantly reduced by 65%. The number of admissions and readmissions to the adolescent inpatient unit increased.

Conclusions: A CAMH ITS and accompanying service redesign can reduce length of adolescent inpatient stay and significantly reduce the number of young people admitted to adult psychiatric wards.