As part of COVID 19 surge planning in March 2020 GOSH agreed to take paediatric patients from all the acute services in North Central London (UCLH Royal Free, Whittington, Barnet and North Middlesex Hospitals) The plan was to close paediatric wards to make space for Adult Patients Major systemic changes took place in less than 3 weeks with excellent collaborative work between all relevant stakeholders An acute mental health inpatient ward was set up and was staffed by child and adolescent psychiatrists, mental health nurses and paediatricians/paediatric nurses This presentation will describe the process of setting up this pathway and the patients that were referred We shall explore aspects that went well as well as challenges we faced and areas of difficulty The impact of the pandemic on mental health presentations will be considered, particularly with respect to self-harm, trauma, family environment, safeguarding, eating disorders and neurodevelopmental presentations Clinical examples will be given We shall also consider the impact of the pandemic on the mental health of staff Outcomes of the pathway will be reflected upon as well as plans for the future and preparations for a possible 'second wave'
System changes in response to the COVID-19 pandemic for adolescent mental health crisis admissions in North/Central London