Beds go unused at teen psychiatric units due to staff shortages

Vulnerable youngsters are being turned away from psychiatric units with room to care for them because of staff shortages, the Dáil heard.

Sinn Féin TD Jonathan O’Brien raised concerns that beds were going unused despite a six-month waiting list for care.

“A report by the Inspectorate of Mental Health Services found that children and teenagers needing psychiatric care are being denied admission to facilities while beds within some of those facilities go unoccupied as a result of staff shortages.