Information released to Fianna Fáil Mental Health Spokesperson James Browne TD reveals a severe lack of child and adolescent acute inpatient beds in mental health services around the country.
Deputy Browne explained, “There are just 74 acute beds available for children and adolescents across the country and they are in the CHO areas that include Dublin, Cork and Galway. Five CHO areas, covering 19 counties, have none at all.
“It seems extraordinary to me that there are no beds in the South East, the Mid West, the Midlands and the North West. I have no doubt that the absence of such beds leads to children being admitted to adult units and worse, waiting for hours in very unsuitable A&E Departments.
“Parents especially in rural areas will not want to send their children vast distances for care. It’s a traumatic enough time for all and separation from local communities is unlikely to be conducive to a recovery process.
“This is yet another example of the inadequate services currently being provided in child mental health services nationally.
“We already know that community mental health services are seriously understaffed with many parts of the country having barely half the required personnel in place. There are significant waiting lists both for child and adolescent mental health services and for psychologist appointments in primary care.
“We need to address this as a matter of priority. Demand is growing, and we can’t leave it unmet. A
Vision for Change
style policy specifically for children is urgently required”, concluded Deputy Browne.
