Plans to have dedicated facilities for children needing treatment for mental health problems are already in the pipeline, according to Health Parliamentary Secretary Chris Fearne.

His comments were made in the wake of calls made last week by Opposition spokesman Claudio Grech.

The Nationalist MP had expressed his deep concern that a minor under the age of 10 had been admitted to a ward with adults at Mount Carmel Hospital.

Mr Grech had said he would support any government initiative to address this issue. At the same time he acknowledged that such incidents had also occurred under PN administrations.

In his comments Mr Fearne welcomed the positive approach taken by the Opposition, while adding that the government was already in the process of exploring ways in which minors could be treated separately from adults.

Mr Fearne was speaking during the inauguration of a female ward at Mount Carmel Hospital, specialising in patients with ‘dual diagnosis’. This kind of treatment is given to patients with mental health problems who also have a drug addiction.

The parliamentary secretary said apart from the opportunity to detoxify themselves, patients would also have the chance to follow a rehabilitation programme. The ward can accommodate six patients.

Psychiatry chairman Anton Grech said that an ever-increasing number of people were suffering from mental health problems, partly as a result of a stressful life but also due to an increase in the abuse of prohibited substances.

He also noted that the incidence of mental health problems among females was on the rise.