Written answers

Wednesday, 28 September 2011

Department of Health

Mental Health Services

9:00 pm

Photo of Charlie McConalogueCharlie McConalogue (Donegal North East, Fianna Fail)
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Question 46: To ask the Minister for Health the total number of occasions on which children or adolescents were admitted to adult mental health care units in 2010; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26055/11]

Photo of Kathleen LynchKathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour)
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In 2010, 155 children and adolescents were admitted to adult psychiatric units.

A child should only be admitted as an in-patient to a psychiatric facility as a last resort, and should as far as possible receive the necessary treatment in the community. The Government is committed to reforming our model of health care delivery so that more care is delivered in the community; there are now 61 multidisciplinary Child and Adolescent Mental Health teams nationally and further teams will be developed in line with the recommendations of A Vision for Change . In terms of child and adolescent mental health service infrastructure, by the end of the year bed capacity will have increased to 52, and a further 14 beds will be provided in the Dublin region next year. In addition, work on the Linn Dara Child and Adolescent Mental Health Day Facility in Cherry Orchard, Dublin is close to completion. It is anticipated that this facility will provide day care and treatment for children and adolescents with mental health needs and will obviate the need for some admissions.

It is envisaged that the provision of improved community based services, coupled with an increase in bed capacity, will put an end to the practice of placing children and adolescents in adult psychiatric facilities.

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