Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what systems are in place for recording and publication of children's deaths in psychiatric hospitals who had been either forcefully detained or voluntary in-patients; and to which authority such deaths are reported.

From 1 April 2008, all Local Safeguarding Children Boards (LSCBs) have had a statutory responsibility to review the deaths of all children from birth (excluding still born babies) up to 18 years, who are normally resident within their area. This is known as the Child Death Review Process. Their responsibilities include setting up a Child Death Overview Panel which reviews child deaths on behalf of the LSCB. This would include deaths in psychiatric in-patient settings. The following link presents data collected from LSCBs in England to the year ending 31 March 2013.

www.gov.uk/government/publications/child-death-reviews-year-ending-31-march-2013

The Care Quality Commission (CQC) is currently developing a system of Intelligent Monitoring for Mental Health services; it is considering which indicators, including those that relate to Serious Untoward Incidents to include in it. This will include children and young people.

The CQC is the official source of information on deaths of patients subject to the Mental Health Act. A link to the CQC's Monitoring the Mental Health Act 2012/13 is:

www.cqc.org.uk/sites/default/files/media/documents/cqc_mentalhealth_2012_13_07_update.pdf

Further information can be obtained from:

The Care Quality Commission (CQC)

public.affairs@cqc.org.uk