Vol. 545 No. 5
47 Mrs. Owen asked the Minister for Health and Children the immediate action he intends to take to tackle the situation regarding children and teenagers being admitted to adult psychiatric hospitals and units rather than to dedicated facilities of their own. [30917/01]
The placement of children and teenagers in adult psychiatric facilities is increasingly seen as inappropriate. The recently published health strategy, Quality and Fairness – A Health System for You, includes a commitment to the development and expansion of appropriate mental health services for this group.
The first report of the working group on child and adolescent psychiatric services, published in March 2001, recommends that a total of seven child and adolescent inpatient units for children aged from six-16 should be developed throughout the country. Project teams have already been established in respect of four of these units, to be based in Cork, Dublin, Galway and Limerick, and design briefs are being prepared. The report also recommended a significant enhancement and expansion of child psychiatric services throughout the country. The implementation of the recommendations of the working group's report is now a priority and is included among the measures proposed in the health strategy to improve health services for children.
