Psychiatric nurses say 'no capacity' at child units in Cork or Galway after cuts

'The PNA sees no capacity or availability to replace the beds particularly given the emerging staff shortages in places like Galway and Cork,'  says Peter Hughes.

Psychiatric nurses have said there is “no capacity” in facilities in Cork and Galway to take children with severe mental illnesses who will be diverted away from a major Dublin unit now running at almost half capacity.

Mental health professional bodies and advocacy groups have expressed grave concern at the closure, until September at the earliest, of 11 of the 24 beds at the Linn Dara child and adolescent inpatient unit in west Dublin.