The Labour Party has called for an inquiry by the Commissioner for Children after three boys were placed in an adult ward of Mt Carmel Hospital.

Party health spokesman Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca said in a statement that the government had promised that the Young People's Unit should no longer be within Mt Carmel.

But not only had that promise not been kept, but teenagers had even been placed in the wards for adults.

She recalled that the same thing happened a few months ago, and the children were only taken out of those wards when the Opposition protested.

But now, three boys aged under 16 have been placed in Male Ward I with men of all ages.

"This situation is very worrying with respect to these children. Not only is the environment inadequate, but so too is the quality of care," Ms Coleiro-Preca said.

She insisted that an inquiry should be conducted by the Commissioner and the results should be made public. The matter should also be investigated by the Social Affairs Committee and it should come up with recommendations to avoid a repeat of the current situation, she said.