More than half of young people admitted to short stay mental health units are being kept there for longer than the recommended maximum stay of six weeks, Sky News can reveal.

Psychiatric intensive care units (PICUs) are acute hospital wards which admit people who have reached crisis point. Patients may be suicidal, violent or experiencing psychotic episodes.

An NHS spokesperson said: "At least 20 additional PICU beds have been commissioned, and while transformation won't happen overnight, this work is starting to make a difference."

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