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| Teenager describes summer on 'terrifying' adult ward | Teenager describes summer on 'terrifying' adult ward |
| (about 7 hours later) | |
| A teenage girl with mental health problems has described her "terrifying" experience of being cared for on an adult ward. | A teenage girl with mental health problems has described her "terrifying" experience of being cared for on an adult ward. |
| Sascha, 16, from west Cornwall, says she was treated alongside terminally ill people and patients with dementia. | Sascha, 16, from west Cornwall, says she was treated alongside terminally ill people and patients with dementia. |
| She was on the ward for three months as there are no beds for children with mental health conditions in the county. | She was on the ward for three months as there are no beds for children with mental health conditions in the county. |
| The head of Cornwall Partnership NHS Foundation Trust said "the families are owed an apology" on behalf of the NHS. | The head of Cornwall Partnership NHS Foundation Trust said "the families are owed an apology" on behalf of the NHS. |
| More on Sascha's story, and other news from Cornwall | |
| "It just really wasn't a very good place to be," said Sascha, who is now being treated 150 miles from home at an NHS unit in Bridgwater, Somerset. | "It just really wasn't a very good place to be," said Sascha, who is now being treated 150 miles from home at an NHS unit in Bridgwater, Somerset. |
| "I just didn't know what was going on, everything was very surreal. It was really anxiety-provoking. I didn't know what I was going to do to myself." | "I just didn't know what was going on, everything was very surreal. It was really anxiety-provoking. I didn't know what I was going to do to myself." |
| The latest figures show that in September this year, 19 children from Cornwall who needed highly specialist psychiatric help were cared for out of the county. | The latest figures show that in September this year, 19 children from Cornwall who needed highly specialist psychiatric help were cared for out of the county. |
| The number of children presenting at Royal Cornwall Hospital's emergency department with mental health problems have risen from 5 in 2012 to 76 in the first six months of 2016. | The number of children presenting at Royal Cornwall Hospital's emergency department with mental health problems have risen from 5 in 2012 to 76 in the first six months of 2016. |
| Sascha's story | Sascha's story |
| Sascha shared a room with people with dementia. She watched as those around her battled cancer. She was there when people died. | Sascha shared a room with people with dementia. She watched as those around her battled cancer. She was there when people died. |
| "It was terrifying. It was really sad," she said. | "It was terrifying. It was really sad," she said. |
| Sascha was put on a general ward in a hospital in Cornwall, even though she was a teenager in the middle of a mental health crisis. | Sascha was put on a general ward in a hospital in Cornwall, even though she was a teenager in the middle of a mental health crisis. |
| There are no beds for children with mental health problems in the county, and the numbers of young people needing help are increasing. | There are no beds for children with mental health problems in the county, and the numbers of young people needing help are increasing. |
| Sascha had a woman sit at her feet and scream at someone who was not there - the woman tried to go to the toilet at the end of her bed. | Sascha had a woman sit at her feet and scream at someone who was not there - the woman tried to go to the toilet at the end of her bed. |
| "I told the staff and they all found it hilarious," said Sascha. "They thought it was really funny." | "I told the staff and they all found it hilarious," said Sascha. "They thought it was really funny." |
| But she says the experience made her anxiety worse and made her feel alone. | But she says the experience made her anxiety worse and made her feel alone. |
| "I was nearly sent up to Scotland," she said. "It almost makes you feel criminalised." | "I was nearly sent up to Scotland," she said. "It almost makes you feel criminalised." |
| She has chosen to speak out to show that an improvement is needed in mental health services for young people. | She has chosen to speak out to show that an improvement is needed in mental health services for young people. |
| "The more people that know about it, the more likely we are to get the mental health services we want and need in Cornwall - and that other people going through similar situations feel like they're not the only ones." | "The more people that know about it, the more likely we are to get the mental health services we want and need in Cornwall - and that other people going through similar situations feel like they're not the only ones." |
| Chloe Hodge, 18, has been in mental health units all over England. She has not been home for three years - at one point she was 350 miles away in Colchester, Essex. | Chloe Hodge, 18, has been in mental health units all over England. She has not been home for three years - at one point she was 350 miles away in Colchester, Essex. |
| She is currently being treated in south Wales, 200 miles from her home in Grampound Road, Cornwall. | She is currently being treated in south Wales, 200 miles from her home in Grampound Road, Cornwall. |
| "I love doing family stuff and really miss that," she said. "I can't wait to get out of here so I can do it again." | "I love doing family stuff and really miss that," she said. "I can't wait to get out of here so I can do it again." |
| Phil Confue, chief executive of Cornwall Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, said there were plans for a 12-bed children's mental health unit but they are waiting for NHS England to fund it. | Phil Confue, chief executive of Cornwall Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, said there were plans for a 12-bed children's mental health unit but they are waiting for NHS England to fund it. |
| "The delay is with NHS England," he said. "In Cornwall if you're a child in Penzance, the nearest unit - and there often isn't a bed available in the nearest unit - is more than 70 miles away. | "The delay is with NHS England," he said. "In Cornwall if you're a child in Penzance, the nearest unit - and there often isn't a bed available in the nearest unit - is more than 70 miles away. |
| "If you're in London that's the equivalent of going from London to Birmingham - that would be unacceptable. We don't understand why it's acceptable for Cornish children to do that." | "If you're in London that's the equivalent of going from London to Birmingham - that would be unacceptable. We don't understand why it's acceptable for Cornish children to do that." |
| Sharon and Steve Cowburn, whose 18-year-old son Ben took his own life in an adult hospital, have been fighting for a children's unit in Cornwall for six years. | Sharon and Steve Cowburn, whose 18-year-old son Ben took his own life in an adult hospital, have been fighting for a children's unit in Cornwall for six years. |
| "My son died in inappropriate care in Cornwall," Mrs Cowburn said. | "My son died in inappropriate care in Cornwall," Mrs Cowburn said. |
| "I just think that after six years we should definitely have seen some progress for this amazing unit which would make so much difference to so many families" | "I just think that after six years we should definitely have seen some progress for this amazing unit which would make so much difference to so many families" |
| A spokesperson from NHS England said efforts were being made to increase the number of children's inpatient beds. | A spokesperson from NHS England said efforts were being made to increase the number of children's inpatient beds. |
| "Preparatory work is under way and the formal commencement of the procurement will be announced shortly. | "Preparatory work is under way and the formal commencement of the procurement will be announced shortly. |
| "The plan is to award contracts later in 2016 and for these contracts to be operational from April 2017." | "The plan is to award contracts later in 2016 and for these contracts to be operational from April 2017." |