title: Distribution and characteristics of in-patient child and adolescent mental health services in England and Wales.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Little is known about the current state of provision of child and adolescent mental health service in-patient units in the UK.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To describe the full number, distribution and key characteristics of child and adolescent psychiatric in-patient units in England and Wales.
  
  
  METHODS
  Following identification of units, data were collected by a postal general survey with telephone follow-up.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Eighty units were identified; these provided 900 beds, of which 244 (27%) were managed by the independent sector. Units are unevenly distributed, with a concentration of beds in London and the south-east of England. The independent sector, which manages a high proportion of specialist services and eating disorder units in particular, accentuates this uneven distribution. Nearly two-thirds of units reported that they would not accept emergency admissions.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A national approach is needed to the planning and commissioning of this specialist service.
authors.affiliation: Royal College of Psychiatrists' Research Unit, London, UK.
authors.forename: Anne
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: O'Herlihy
authors.forename: Adrian
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Worrall
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Lelliott
authors.forename: Tony
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Jaffa
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Hill
authors.forename: Sube
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Banerjee
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D016497:Adolescent Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration*; D002648:Child; D002662:Child Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration*; D004739:England; D001068:Feeding and Eating Disorders / Q000628:therapy; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D006801:Humans; D007859:Learning Disabilities / Q000628:therapy; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000628:therapy; D008605:Mental Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration*; D011567:Psychiatric Department, Hospital / Q000458:organization & administration*; D012926:Social Control, Formal; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000628:therapy; D014852:Wales