Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 18 October 2016
487. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Health the steps he is taking to end the practice of placing children and adolescents in adult psychiatric wards; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23032/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraIt is the policy of the HSE, as reflected in its annual service plans, to provide an age appropriate mental health service. A significant majority of young people are now being treated by a Child and Adolescent Mental Health Team.
Progress on this issue has been significant overall in recent years, demonstrated by the fact that the number of such admissions in 2008 was 247, reducing to 95 last year. This is despite a background of increasing demands on the Child and Adolescent Mental Health services generally. There are a number of reasons why such admissions are made. These include distance from a Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services facility, timing of admissions, potential medical issues, and the agreement of the young person, and their family. The HSE monitors the situation closely with a view to limiting inappropriate admissions as much as possible, and putting in place safeguards to protect young people in such situations. A total of 47 Child and Adolescent Mental Health service users have been admitted to adult mental health units up to the end of August this year, out of a total amount of 247 Child and Adolescent Mental Health admissions. In August 2016, 99.6% of the bed days used by children admitted to mental health acute inpatient units were in age appropriate Child and Adolescent Acute Inpatient Units.
CAMHS has been prioritised in the new funding made available by Government since 2012, designed to support timely access to appropriate services to address the mental health needs of all children, with the emphasis on the early intervention and integrated service. Additional resources and facilities means that we now have 67 CAMHS teams, and 3 Paediatric Liaison Teams, supported by 66 operational CAMHS beds across the country.
There have been some difficulties in recruiting and retaining Specialist Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services staff, particularly consultant psychiatrists. Due to these operational staff recruitment and retention challenges at local level, a number of referrals in the 16-18 year age group are dealt with by local Adult Teams under appropriate CAMHS procedures. The Executive is addressing this issue on an on-going basis.
Bearing in mind all the circumstances, I am satisfied that the HSE is making good progress in relation to the issues raised by the Deputy, including taking account of the wishes of each young person and their parents or guardians, and the complexities of each case. In many cases, a multi-disciplinary or inter-agency approach is required. I will continue to closely monitor this issue, in conjunction with the HSE, to ensure that the new funding I secured for mental health overall for 2017 will contribute to improving Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services, and aiming to maximise age appropriate admissions across all regions.
