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Teen Stuck in A&E for 70+ Days
10 Apr
Summary
- A vulnerable teen remained in A&E for over 70 days.
- Social services failed to find a suitable placement.
- A&E departments are increasingly a last resort.
A vulnerable teenager spent more than 70 days within Queen's Hospital's A&E department in Romford, east London. This occurred after her council-arranged care placement broke down, and social services could not secure an alternative. Court documents revealed she was under constant supervision in a windowless room.
A High Court judge deemed the situation "intolerable," raising significant concerns about the care of children with severe behavioural and mental health difficulties. The teenager's complex needs, including self-harm and aggression, prevented her placement in standard wards or children's homes.
Health chiefs attribute this to a wider shortage of specialist children's homes, secure units, and mental health beds for young people. Barking, Havering and Redbridge University Hospitals Trust reported other children experiencing similar long waits. The trust is collaborating with councils and mental health services to expedite placements.
Clinicians warn that prolonged A&E stays can worsen conditions due to the noisy, overstimulating environment lacking specialist care. This case underscores broader concerns about NHS emergency care capacity, with many departments operating significantly over capacity.
