A 10-year-old boy was kept in seclusion in Mt Carmel Hospital for his own safety, this newspaper is informed.

Speaking to this media house, sources close to the mental health hospital 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 secreatry for health Chris Fearne and Mental Health Commissioner John Cachia teamed up to address the situation.

Last week, shadow health minister Claudio Grech called on the Mental Health Commissioner to investigate allegations that a 10-year-old child was 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 as the shadow minister for health, he always sought consensus on health issues.

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

Sources who spoke to this newspaper said that the purpose of creating specialised wards would help eradicate certain past practices.

Yesterday, a new ward, the Dual Diagnosis Unit, was inaugurated at Mt Carmel. The ward is set to host up to five female patients at a go who received a dual diagnosis, meaning they are victims of drug abuse who also suffer from mental health problems as a result. Patients will receive detoxification and mental health treatment while also undergoing a drug rehabilitation programme.

This is the first time in Malta that a ward of this sort was opened. 

PN MP Claudio Grech reacts

Writing in his blog, Mr Grech welcomed the fact that mental health commissioner John Cachia, parliamentary secretary Chris Fearne and the hospital's CEO took immediate action to address the case of a 10 year old boy who was placed in seclusion at Mt Carmel but was later released.

But Mr Grech said that this still wasn’t enough and the time had come for the government to provide adequate facilities for children.

“Children encountering mental health problems should not be placed in facilities hosting adults,” he insisted.