CAMHS inpatient bed shortages
Deputy Gino Kenny asks about staff shortages leaving child and adolescent mental health inpatient beds closed. Minister of State Mary Butler says beds are closed because of safe staffing problems, but community teams and private capacity are being used while waiting lists are monitored.
On putting a question to the HSE regarding CAMHS inpatient beds in the State, I received a reply that was slightly alarming. Out of the 72 registered beds in the State, only 51 were operational and, as of October last year, 30 were occupied. The main reason for this was staff shortages. What has the Government put in place to address these staff shortages that are having a detrimental effect on children's mental health?
Comment on this
I thank the Deputy for raising this important question. He is quite right. Currently, we have 52 beds operational, and 21 beds closed.
The reason they are closed is due to a safe staffing issue. However, what we have been doing is investing more in community teams. We have taken up, where necessary, private capacity, and I am monitoring the waiting list week on week regarding inpatient supports for young people. Whether it is the unit in Merlin Park University Hospital in Galway, Éist Linn in Cork, or Linn Dara in Cherry Orchard Hospital in Dublin, we are keeping a focus on this and the waiting list this week stands at one person waiting for inpatient admittance to a CAMHS unit.