The fact that a number of directives have been issued by the MUMN at Mt Carmel Hospital, coupled with lack of space at the Young People’s Unit, is why the management of the hospital placed two teenagers in a reserved section in a female ward intended for adults, The Malta Independent on Sunday is informed.

Sources who spoke to this newspaper said that one of the directives is that young patients should not be allowed in all the hospital’s wards. However, since there is no adequate place to host young girls with challenging behaviour other than the Young People’s Unit which is far too small, a decision was taken by the hospital’s management to place the two teenagers in the “reserved” area in the female adult ward.

“The reserved area is not seclusion as has been portrayed, but an area which is away from other children; in no way does it mean they were locked up,” sources explained.

These situations arose due to lack of space in the Young People’s Unit at Mt Carmel.

Sources assured this newspaper that both the government and the management of the hospital are working on two facilities, one to host children and the other adolescents, away from the hospital.

In fact, a site has already been identified but the timeframe of when the facilities will be available is still unknown.

Sources said that there is no other alternative for children with challenging behaviour other than being placed at Mt Carmel. Coupled with the directives and lack of space at the Young People’s Unit, such situations do arise.

Earlier this year, this newspaper reported that a 10-year-old boy was kept in seclusion at the hospital “for his own safety”.

Speaking to this newspaper, sources close to the mental health hospital had said that each and every decision taken at the mental health hospital is based on recommendations of consultants and, in this case, it was related to medical reasons.

The boy has since been released from hospital after the CEO of Mt Carmel, Clifton Grima, Parliamentary Secretary for Health Chris Fearne and Mental Health Commissioner John Cachia joined forces to address the situation.

The issue had been brought to light by shadow health minister Claudio Grech who had called on the Mental Health Commissioner to investigate allegations that a 10-year-old child had been placed in a seclusion ward at the hospital. Addressing a press conference on the need of an adequate facility for underage mental health sufferers, Mr Grech said he always sought consensus on health issues.

“Whatever the circumstances, such actions are unacceptable,” he said. “This is not a partisan issue and I am not trying to create one. It is high time that politicians and stakeholders come together and seek new adequate alternatives.” 

Last week, Mr Grech brought a similar issue to light, this time involving two teenage girls, one 14 and the other 15.

He told Parliament that two children were being kept at Mount Carmel Hospital’s seclusion ward, which is intended for adults.

The claim was confirmed by Parliamentary Secretary for Health Chris Fearne in Parliament.

“Children receiving treatment at the hospital are typically kept at the Young People’s Unit, but a number are kept in adult wards on the recommendation of the consultants responsible. This was the case with the two teenagers in question, Mr Fearne replied.

Sources said that an inter-ministerial committee is working to start work on the development of two new facilities.

Mr Grech said it is unacceptable that in this day and age, children with behavioural issues have to be placed in adult seclusion wards.

“The lame excuse of not having adequate facilities is now becoming more of a broken record than anything else: the government has been talking about inter-ministerial committees and alternative sites for nearly a year now.

“In September last year (following yet another incident), the government had said that things were to be addressed immediately. To date, nothing has happened,” he said.

“The reality is that this government finds money for all sorts of frivolous measures but somehow finds it very difficult to provide interim solutions for the few cases of children that require hospitalisation. We strongly insist that while the government sorts out the long-term arrangement, it should provide interim solutions so that no child will ever need to be hospitalised in an adult ward at Mount Carmel, let alone in the seclusion ward.

“The Commissioner for Mental Health has suggested that these children could be placed in Mater Dei, something which we believe makes sense and should not be rejected.”