Research looked at all admissions for five to 18-year-olds to general acute medical wards in England from 2012 to 2022.

There was a 65% increase in the number of children and young people being admitted to general acute medical wards in hospitals in England because of a mental health concern between 2012 and 2022, ...

These units serve as a bridge between the emergency department, general practitioners, and other hospital wards and are separate to specialised mental health wards such as eating disorder units.