Partial Closure Of West Dublin Adolescent Mental Health Facility To Remain Until At Least New Year

Linn Dara facility in West Dublin, covers areas of Co. Kildare & West Wicklow

In May this year, 11 beds closed at a Linn Dara facility in West Dublin.

The facility covers the Greater Dublin area, including Kildare & West Wicklow.

According to the HSE, "Linn Dara Child & Adolescent Mental Health Services (Child & Adolescent Mental Health Services) are specialist services provided by the Health Service Executive for children and adolescents aged 17 and under."

At the time of partial closure, the Government said the it would be in place until September 2022.

The Psychiatric Nurses Association, based in Sallins, had a meeting with the HSE approximately two weeks ago, where they were informed "the unit would not reopen before Christmas".

That's according to General Secretary, Peter Hughes.

Hughes noted the partial closure is "going to have a continued detrimental impact on the delivery of mental health services for children, with a serious mental illness".

"There are four in-patient services for child & adolescents in the country" continued Hughes.

He noted the Government policy at the time 'Vision For Change' - adding it was implemented 16 years ago - recommended 100 beds in the system.

Currently there are 53 beds in the country.

"It is because there is a recruitment & retention crisis within psychiatric nurses" says Hughes.

It was expected the facility would re-open in September as there are "a lot of new graduates at that time of year".

To the best of PNA's knowledge seven staff will be leaving in next few months & the "amount of graduates taking up employment in Linn Dara didn't materialise."

Peter noted the association's fear is the facility will remain partially closed longer, than now being reported.

Children with mental health difficulties "need to be seen & treated at the earliest possible occasion".

Hughes continues the demand has increased, yet "we have the closure of beds, instead of the opening of new facilities."

When the association met with the HSE two weeks, Peter noted "we pursued that a workforce planning group would be established for the area".

The first meeting of that group, according to Hughes, is happening tomorrow (Thursday, 20th October).

Listen back to Peter Hughes' full interview with Eoin Beatty, on Wednesday morning's 'Kildare Today':