Beds lie idle but children denied psychiatric care

Children and teenagers needing psychiatric care are being denied admission to mental health facilities while beds lie idle.

Staff shortages in several dedicated child and adolescent units around the country mean that up to half the beds cannot be made available despite growing waiting lists.

A report by the Inspector of Mental Health Services found waiting times of up to six months for admission, that some patients in Munster were being advised to travel to Dublin for care, and that others were being sent to an adult unit.