HSE mental health services are committed to age appropriate inpatient mental health treatment and to the minimization of the number of admissions of children to adult units, while acknowledging that, in exceptional circumstances, it will continue to be necessary, where there is a clear clinical imperative, to admit a small number of children to adult units, for the shortest time possible.
Children are admitted to adult units only after efforts to place them in Child and Adolescent In-Patient Units are unsuccessful due to capacity or clinical needs. All admissions of young people under the age of 18 years are notified to the Mental Health Commission in accordance with regulations. All such admissions are also notified to a National CAMHS Lead Manager within Mental Health.
A decision to admit to an adult unit is made only if a CAMHS admission is not feasible. The majority of child admissions to adult units are for children in the 16-17 age bracket. Admission to an adult unit may often be more appropriate for the individual and to avoid any impact on younger children in CAMHS inpatient units. As such, and with respect to taking due consideration of the clinical need of the child and the services they require, it may not be the case that Ireland will reach a point there are absolutely no children using adult facilities.
Children admitted to adult units are provided with special supports by the HSE. The HSE Service Plan allows for some operational flexibility surrounding emergency placements in Adult Units, particularly where very short-term placements take place. Full account is taken of all relevant factors such as the preferences of all those involved, and geographical factors relating to access or visiting. Admission of children to adult units is for short time periods, usually resulting in transfer to a CAMHS unit or discharge with CAMHS Community team follow up.
