Mark Ward TD has expressed his concern that 11 child and adolescent beds in Linn Dara remain closed despite assurances that they would be reopened in September. Teachta Ward was speaking after a response to a parliamentary question revealed that it is not possible for the HSE to give a specific date when these beds will reopen.
The Dublin Mid-West TD said “It is of huge concern that the 11 child and adolescent beds in Linn Dara that were closed in May of this year remain closed indefinitely. “We got assurances from the HSE and the Government, including the Taoiseach and the Minister for Mental Health that the beds would be reopened in September. “Information I received from the HSE in response to a parliamentary question stated that it is not possible for the HSE to give a specific date when these beds will reopen.
“This is simply not good enough. There is a crisis in Child and Adolescent Mental Health services with waiting lists for CAMHS exceeding 4,000 children waiting for psychology appointments. “Over 11,000 children are also waiting on primary care psychology, with almost 4,000 children waiting over a year for an appointment. “Nationally CAMHS is only operating at 70% bed capacity. Linn Dara is even lower than this as it is currently operating at only 54% bed capacity with just 13 of the 24 beds open.
“In May we were told that these beds were only closed temporarily and that they would re-open in September. “It is now October and there is no date when these vital beds will reopen. “This is unacceptable and is another failure by government in children’s mental health. “The government is not treating this emergency with the urgency that is required. Children and their families are being left behind.”
