May 25, 2022
Children spending days in adult psychiatric facilities despite available CAMHS bed capacity – Mark Ward TD

Sinn Féin spokesperson on Mental Health, Mark Ward TD, has received information that 27 children spent a total of 87 days in adult psychiatric facilities in 2021.

This is despite there being free CAMHS bed capacity at the time of their admissions.

Teachta Ward said:

“Information I have received in relation to children being admitted to adult psychiatric facilities in 2021 is extremely worrying.

“I received information that 27 children spent a total 87 days in adult psychiatric facilities in 2021. This is despite there being free CAMHS bed capacity at the same time as their admission.

“The HSE disclosed to me that the reason vulnerable children were placed in adult facilities was because some areas do not offer an emergency out-of-hours service.

“These areas include Kerry, Cork, Tipperary, Carlow, Kilkenny, Waterford, Wexford, Cavan, Monaghan, Louth and Meath.

“It is scandalous that 11 out of 26 counties in this state do not offer an emergency out-of-hours service for children suffering from mental distress.

“This is yet another abject failure on the provision of children’s mental health care.

“The HSE states that they would minimize the number of children admitted into adult facilities for the shortest time possible, yet 27 children spent, on average, over three days in adult facilities.

“One child spent 13 days in an adult facility and two children spent a week.

“A child who was admitted in December 2021 spent 13 days in an adult facility.

“The HSE cited one of the reasons as ‘no beds in CAMHS unit’.

“The child was from CHO area 9. Information I have been shown states that there were six vacant beds in St Vincent’s, which covers CHO 9, at the time of the child’s admission.

“So why was this child kept for 13 days in an adult facility when there were vacant beds in an acute children’s mental health facility?

“Even if the child was deemed to be at immediate and serious risk, was this for the whole 13 days of admission?

“One of the children spent seven days in an adult facility in February 2022. The only reason given by the HSE was that there were no beds in CAMHS units. Yet the information I received stated that there were five beds vacant in their catchment area in CHO 9 time of admission.

“The admission of children to adult inpatient facilities is a symptom of a systemic failure on the part of the state.”

Follow us online

Latest Tweets

Sinn Féin launched our health plan for local health services. We want people to have the very best access to local healthcare services. You can read our plan here 👉 https://vote.sinnfein.ie/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Caring-for-Communities.pdf
@davidcullinane

Tackling the crisis in Lough Neagh is a priority.

Today I visited the Lough and heard first hand about the issues it faces, and I am glad that coordinated efforts are underway to protect its stunning beauty and essential roles in the environment, tourism, fishing, and water…

https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/childcaresurvey2024

Sinn Féin is working to make childcare affordable and accessible for all parents.

We have launched a survey to listen to your personal experiences of childcare, and to help us address issues facing families.

Please take a moment to fill in our survey.

Irish intervention in ICJ genocide case must be meaningful – Matt Carthy TD

“The intervention must be a meaningful one that sets out clearly the position of the Irish people that Israel is engaged in a genocide against the people of Gaza”

@mattcarthy

Load More