Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many children have died in psychiatric in-patient units in each year since 2010.

The Department does not hold the information requested prior to 2013. Since January 2013, the National Health Service has reported 22 deaths of patients under the care of inpatient children and young people’s mental health services as follows:

- 2013 (four deaths);

- 2014 (three deaths);

- 2015 (two deaths);

- 2016 (two deaths);

- 2017 (three deaths);

- 2018 (four deaths); and

- 2019 (four deaths).

All of these deaths were reported as suspected self-inflicted deaths at the point of notification to the Department. The final determination of cause of death is determined by the Coroner at inquest.

Al deaths of patients under the care of inpatient children and young people’s mental health services are reported to Ministers, the Care Quality Commission, and the National Confidential Inquiry into Suicide and Safety in Mental Health which includes the figures in its annual reports.