A Dublin TD has slammed the closure of inpatient beds in west Dublin as an "abject failure" by the government.
Sinn Fein spokesperson for Mental Health TD Mark Ward has called for transparent governance and accountability from Government and the HSE after the decision to close 11 of the 23 inpatient beds in Linn Dara, Child and Adolescent, Mental Health Service (CAMHS) in Cherry Orchard.
It comes as the HSE confirmed that the beds would remain closed until at least September due to staff shortages.
Read more: Met Eireann weather forecast predicts hottest weekend of the year so far
Deputy Ward said: “The decision to close 11 of the 23 inpatient beds in Linn Dara is another abject failure by the Government to address the crisis in children’s mental health
"The latest figures I have is that there were 308 admissions of children into CAMHS. Linn Dara accounted for 138 of those 308 admissions."
Deputy Ward said that there are now only 56 beds available to children through CAMHS in the state.
“The closure of these vital beds will create nothing short of a crisis for child and adolescent services and could lead to an increase into placing children into unsuitable adult psychiatric facilities.
"This is the second time in five years that beds have closed in Linn Dara. The Government have learned nothing."
Deputy Ward said there is a "lack of transparent governance and accountability" at the very top of the HSE in children’s mental health as was shown by the recent scandal in South Kerry CAMHS where children were mistreated.
“The situation at Linn Dara is another indication of the crisis in the recruitment and retention of health care staff, which is the direct result of poor Government planning."
Read more: Fears fifth wave of Covid on the way for Ireland as first case of new variant of concern identified
He concluded: “The Minister must now come forward with urgent targeted solutions to staff CAMHS services and to open these beds immediately."
Meanwhile, PNA General Secretary Peter Hughes said it was inexplicable how the HSE has allowed the beds at Linn Dara to close in the light of the ongoing and worsening crisis in the provision of CAMHS services nationally.
He called on the Minister for Health, Stephen Donnelly, to ensure that resources are put in place to ensure these beds are re-opened.
Mr Hughes said: “Linn Dara Day plays a vitally important role in the provision of child and adolescent mental health services in the greater Dublin region.
“A similar decision to close beds in this unit was made in 2017 and was met by widespread shock and opposition. It now appears that five years on that nothing has been learned and we find ourselves in the same position again.”
Read more: HPV vaccine will be free for all women under 25 as part of catch-up programme
Sign up to the Dublin Live Newsletter to get all the latest Dublin news straight to your inbox
